CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Early lead doesn't hold for Nats

Published on August 6, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


LYNCHBURG, VA - In a rare occurrence Wednesday night, the Nationals bullpen turned out a rough performance. A 3-1 Potomac lead in the bottom of the sixth inning quickly became a 6-3 deficit as the Nationals could not overcome the burden and lost to the Lynchburg Hillcats 10-4 at City Stadium.

The P-Nats littered the bases over the first four innings but managed just two runs and stranded eight. With the bases loaded with one out in the second, Potomac scored just one on Michael Martinez's RBI groundout.

The scoring opportunities presented themselves but the P-Nats did not completely cash in. Martinez then made the game 2-1 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly with first and third and nobody out. But with one run already in and Jhonatan Solano at third and Dan Lyons at first with less than two outs, Potomac could not score.

Luis Atilano was superb in his eighth start with Potomac tossing five frames while allowing one run on just four hits. Nine of Atilano's 15 outs came via a ground ball. The Puerto Rican departed with a 3-1 lead and in line for his fifth win of the season.

The usually reliable lefty Atahualpa Severino was not himself in what was an outing to forget. Severino (0-3) lasted just 1/3 of an inning but endured four hits, two walks, an error, and a wild pitch resulting in five runs. The first three hitters in the last of the sixth reached base via a hit. Kent Sakamoto smoked a ground ball down the third base line that scored two runs to tie the score at 2-2 and the Cats took the lead on Jared Keel's RBI double. Lynchburg was not done as they kept piling it on thanks to Severino's wild pitch that resulted in a run and a RBI groundout from Danny Bomback. In all, nine hitters came to the plate and the score stood 6-3 Lynchburg.

Three more runs from the Hillcats off of Jack Spradlin in the bottom of the seventh put Potomac away for good. Miles Durham, Kris Watts, and Keel all had RBI hits as eight batters came to the plate and the Hillcats had a commanding 9-4 lead.

Lynchburg won its first series since July 5-7 spanning eight series. The Nationals travel to Winston-Salem to begin a four-game set with the Warthogs tomorrow night. Erik Arnesen (2-0, 1.42) will start for Potomac opposite Matt Long (6-10, 4.66). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from August 6, 2008


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