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CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Atwood Dazzles in Carolina Homecoming

August 26, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC- Down the stretch, the Potomac Nationals' offense has found a way to make the most of their base hits. Of course, when the starting pitchers are consistently delivering lights-out performances, it makes it easier for the lumber company to piece enough runs together. Though the team has rapped out just 15 hits in the first three games of this four-game set with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the P-Nats have taken two of three from the birds thanks to some outstanding starting pitching, keeping the party going in game three by the score of 4-3.

Following Brad Peacock's dominating eight-inning outing on Tuesday night, Will Atwood made his homecoming a memorable one. The South Carolinian tossed 7 1/3 excellent innings, allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out six in the process. Atwood (8-7) finally moved above the .500 mark for the first time this season, pitching a few hours from his hometown of Piedmont, SC in front of a contingent of family and friends who had made the trek from his hometown.

The lefty was staked to an early 2-0 advantage thanks to a pair of solo home runs from Danny Espinosa in the first inning and Brian Peacock in the second. For Espinosa, it was his 15th long ball of the year, good for second on the ballclub, and Peacock knocked his fifth round-tripper, his third against the Pelicans in 2009.

Espinosa would tack on another tally in the third with a safety squeeze bunt off starter Erik Cordier, scoring Boomer Whiting with the game's third run which was plenty of support for Atwood.

They would push the lead to 4-0 in the top of the sixth when Devin Ivany continued to sizzle at the plate with runners in scoring position, knocking a double down the left-field line to score Espinosa with the game's fourth run. It was then that the Pelicans began to chip away at the Potomac lead.

C.J. Lee blasted a solo home run off Atwood, and a Cole Miles sacrifice fly made the game 4-2. With Cole Kimball on the hill in the bottom of the ninth inning facing the heart of the Pelican lineup, Donell Linares lined a double to left field to put the pressure on Kimball.

Linares would come around to score on sacrifice fly off the bat of Gerry Rodriguez, but Kimball struck out both Cody Johnson and Jesus Sucre to slam the door on the Birds, picking up his eighth save of the season.

These two teams will play the finale of this four-game set Thursday evening as the P-Nats look to win the series from the Pelicans. You can catch all the action live on www.potomacnationals.com with Dan McGinn and Anthony Masterson starting with the pregame show at 6:45 ET.

For more information on tickets, daily promotions, and all things P-Nats, call (703) 590-2311 or log onto www.potomacnationals.com to join the party!

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Carolina League Stories from August 26, 2009


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