CarL1 Potomac Nationals

3-Run 1st Enough in P-Nats 4-2 Win

Published on May 20, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(WOODBRIDGE, VA) - The Potomac Nationals scored three runs in the first inning in a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Mudcats Sunday afternoon at Pfitzner Stadium. In a spot start, Ryan Demmin tossed four scoreless innings for the P-Nats.

Potomac started their scoring in the first against Carolina for the second straight day. Francisco Soriano walked against Mudcats starter LHP Mike Rayl with one out. Soriano stole second then third and scored on a throwing error by Carolina catcher Dwight Childs when advancing to third to give the P-Nats a 1-0 lead. Justin Bloxom knocked a solo homer over the left field fence to increase the Nats lead to 2-0. It was his fifth blast of the season. Michael Taylor doubled to right-center field and scored on a two-out single by Randolph Oduber to increase the Nationals lead to 3-0.

The Nationals added another run in the fourth on a solo homer by Oduber -- his fifth blast of the year. The shot out to left extended the P-Nats lead to 4-0. Rayl (3-5) ended his day tossing six innings with four runs and six hits against.

Demmin made his second spot start of the year for the Nationals and evaded trouble through four scoreless innings. He allowed runners in each inning but used a season-high five strikeouts to not allow a run.

The Mudcats would touch up the Nationals bullpen for two runs. Ronny Rodriguez hit a solo home run off of Shane McCatty to lead off the sixth to cut the lead to 4-1. Carolina added another tally on an unearned run in the seventh against Joe Testa to get within 4-2 of Potomac.

But Neil Holland shut the door on any Carolina comeback with two scoreless innings for the save. Holland got his first save of the season by retiring six of the seven batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings.

McCatty (1-0) was the first reliever out of the bullpen replacing Demmin and picked up his first win of the season.

Tomorrow the Nationals start a six-game road trip in Wilmington for their first trip to Delaware of the season to face the Blue Rocks. Matt Swynenberg (3-1, 3.95) gets the start for the P-Nats with the contest set to start at 6:35. Potomac returns home on Monday, May 28th to face the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. For tickets, please call us at 703-590-2311.

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Carolina League Stories from May 20, 2012


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