CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Blue Rocks Walk off to Series Win

Published on July 28, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(WILMINGTON, DE) The Potomac Nationals overcame two two-run deficits but fell to the Wilmington Blue Rocks who scored two in the ninth 5-4. Potomac trailed 2-0 after six and 3-1 after seven but took advantage of a misplayed fly ball to tie the game and a sacrifice fly to take the lead. However, Wilmington scored two in the ninth for a comeback victory. With the win, Wilmington now leads Potomac by two games in the Carolina League North division.

Potomac starter Pat Lehman was sharp in his first start since June 4th against Wilmington. However, he ran into trouble in the third. A bloop single by Adam Frost with one out started the Blue Rocks quick rally. Frost stole second and third then scored on a single by Patrick Norris for the game's first run.

The next Wilmington at bat produced another run without a hard hit ball. Ernesto Mejia hit a soft fly ball into right center that was misplayed into a triple. He scored on a single from Salvador Perez and Wilmington led 2-0.

Lehman settled down and ended up going five innings. He struck out the last five batters he faced and did not walk a batter.

Potomac had a tough time with Blue Rocks starter Ivor Hodgson. In his last start against the P-Nats at Pfitzner Stadium, he went eight scoreless in a 2-0 Wilmington win. Today he went the first six scoreless scattering two singles The Nationals bat came alive in the seventh as Tyler Moore led off with a single and scored on a Robby Jacobsen triple to cut the Blue Rocks lead to 2-1. But Jacobsen was stranded at third as the next three P-Nats hitters were retired.

Wilmington got an insurance run in the seventh. Joey Lewis led the inning off with a double off Clayton Dill, moved to third on a sacrifice and scored on a Rene Oriental single to increase the Blue Rocks lead to 3-1.

However, Potomac just wouldn't quit. In the eight against Jairo Cuevas who relieved Hodgson, Chris Curran led off with a single. Derek Norris walked setting up runners at first and second with two outs for Tyler Moore. He hit a high pop to right field that Nick Francis lost in the low laying clouds which played Curran and Norris to tie the game 3-3.

After a 1-2-3 from Justin Phillabaum in the Wilmington seventh, Potomac was at it again in the ninth. A lead off single from Sean Rooney and double from Bill Rhinehart put runners at second and third with no one out. Jose Lozada hit a medium deep fly ball to left that scored Rooney to give Potomac their first lead of the day 4-3.

But, Wilmington came right back in the home half of the ninth. With one out, Joey Lewis singled. Fernando Garcia replaced Lewis as a pinch-run. Rey Navarro followed with a single to put runners at first and second. Oriental hit a shot back through the middle that hit off the glove of Phillabaum then off the second base bag into center that scored Garcia with the tying run, however Bavarro was thrown out at third by Curran for the second out. However, Oriental stole second and scored on a single to left by Adam Frost to give Wilmington a 5-4 victory.

Tomorrow Potomac returns to Woodbridge for three with the Frederick Keys. Marcos Frias goes to hill for the P-Nats to face Zach Clark of the Keys. First pitch is set for 7:03 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from July 28, 2010


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