CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Bats Awaken, Blast Past Dash 12-4

Published on May 8, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, NC- In their previous series with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the P-Nat pitching staff continued their mastery of opposing hitters only allowing three runs in the entire series, leading the way to a four-game sweep of their division foes. The Nationals offense, however, had not matched their hurlers' dominance, scoring only 12 runs in four games at Frawley Stadium.

Perhaps they were hungry for hits, perhaps they wanted to divert some of the attention being paid to their starting rotation. Perhaps they were just fed up with relying on their staff to continue their season-high seven game win streak. Whatever the reason, the Dash pitchers woke a sleeping giant on Friday night in Winston-Salem as the Nats bashed five home runs en route to a 12-4 victory in Winston-Salem.

After driving through the night to arrive in North Carolina in the wee hours of Friday morning, nobody would have blamed the P-Nats if they had come to the ballpark Friday afternoon dragging their feet. The team, however, were eager to return to the field to continue their hot streak.

Danny Espinosa got the home run derby started in the top of the first inning, launching an opposite field two-run shot off Dash starter Anthony Carter (2-3), his fifth of the season. The Dash scratched out a run in the bottom of the second, but Potomac responded in the next frame in record-breaking fashion.

Francisco Plasencia boomed a leadoff home run to dead center field leading off the inning, his fourth of the year, but the next two hitters were retired. Michael Burgess then stroked a two-out single to right and the flood gates would open from there, submerging the Dash under a tidal wave of long balls that would leave them gasping for air.

Stephen King and Dan Lyons each hit three-run home runs in the inning as the Nats notched seven straight hits, knocking Carter from the game and putting the home team in a 9-1 hole. The seven-run outburst was the most runs scored for the P-Nats in one inning this season.

As advertised, the P-Nat pitching staff once again did not disappoint as Erik Arnesen maintained his focus even though the game was out of hand early, calmly setting down Dash hitters with the ease we have grown accustomed to throughout this season.

Arnesen (4-1) tossed 6 1/3 innings, only allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits, striking out four without walking a batter to lower his ERA to 2.23.

Arnesen's dominating performance extended a scintillating stretch by the P-Nats starting staff. In the starter's last eight games spanning the length of the team's eight-game win streak, the mound menaces have thrown 48 1/3 innings and only allowed five runs with just four of those being earned. That is good for a minuscule ERA of 0.75 during that span.

The P-Nats look to win their fourth consecutive series tomorrow with first pitch at 7:05 ET as Tom Milone gets the nod, looking to pick up his second win of the season.

You can catch all the action live on www.potomacnationals.com starting with the pregame show at 6:40 ET with Dan McGinn and Anthony Masterson.

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

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Carolina League Stories from May 8, 2009


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