CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Burgess' Bombs Not Enough as Nats Fall

Published on August 5, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


FREDERICK, Md- With the Wilmington Blue Rocks idle due to rain in the Winston-Salem area on Wednesday night, the P-Nats had a chance to put another half-game between themselves and the second-place Blue Crew. The Frederick Keys, however, have not announced themselves out of this playoff race yet, taking the rubber match against the Potomac Nationals by the score of 11-6.

Will Atwood had an uncharacteristically tough night on the hill for the Potomac Nationals, going just four innings while surrendering six runs on seven hits while striking out three. For Atwood (6-7), the four inning stint was his shortest outing since April 15 as the Keys brought their lumber to the ballpark on this day.

The P-Nats were the team to strike first blood in this game, however, as the Nationals plated four runs in the top of the third inning. Tim Pahuta and Boomer Whiting would knock back-to-back hits to lead off the frame, and Michael Martinez lined the first pitch he saw from Sean Gleason (3-5) into centerfield for a run-scoring single. When the ball kicked away from centerfielder Matt Angle, Whiting never hesitated on the basepaths, scoring all the way from first base to give the P-Nats a 2-0 lead.

With two down, Jesus Valdez worked a walk to get Michael Burgess to the plate and Burgess launched the first offering from Gleason deep over the right-field scoreboard, his 17th home run of the season, to push the P-Nat advantage to 4-0.

The lead would be short-lived, though, as the Keys would strike back with five runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame, the big hits coming off the bats of Pedro Florimon, Jr. and Ryan Adams who lined a two-run double apiece to take the lead over the P-Nats.

The hitting stars for the game for the Keys were Adams, who went 3-for-5 with four RBI, Billy Rowell who went 3-for-4 with a home run, and Robbie Widlansky who went 4-for-5 with an RBI. Widlansky went 9-for-13 in the three-game series with a home run and five RBI to push his average against Potomac this season to .474.

The Keys at one point scored ten unanswered runs, pushing their lead to 10-4 in the seventh inning.

Burgess would add another home run in the top of the 8th inning, his first multi-home run game of the season, to give the right-fielder 18 home runs on the year, good for second in the league. The P-Nats, oddly enough, had back-to-back games in which a Potomac player enjoyed a multi-home-run game after Danny Espinosa knocked two round-trippers in Tuesday's contest. Both of those games, however, ended in P-Nat losses.

Boomer Whiting went 4-for-4 hitting in the number nine spot in the lineup, his first four-hit game of the season to raise his average 11 points.

Potomac returns home for Thursday night's all-important opener with the second-place Wilmington Blue Rocks with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 ET. The P-Nats will be debuting a brand new promotion for Thursday nights for the rest of the season with the inaugural Thursday Cheers day at the ballpark! Fans can enjoy beverages at Pfitzner Stadium for just $1 in addition to the rest of the party going on at the Pfitz! Be sure to bring a friend to take part in Thursday Cheers with the P-Nats!

In addition to Thursday Cheers, Thursdays will still be Ladies Night at the ballpark where all ladies get into the ballpark for half-price, and can register before the ballgame to win great prizes like concert tickets from Merriweather Post Pavillion and a $150 spa treatment prize package from Vita Nova Med Spa! Ladies will also receive a flower upon entering the gates courtesy of Flowers in Just Hours.

It will also be Virginia Lottery Second-Chance Thursday where fans can bring in their non-winning Virginia Lottery scratch cards for the opportunity to purchase buy-one-get-one-free tickets to that night's ballgame!

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 5, 2009


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