CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Hillcats Hammer P-Nats in Friday Opener

Published on May 22, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- It was billed as a matchup between the top two teams in the Carolina League as the Lynchburg Hillcats took the four hour trip to Woodbridge to begin a three game showdown with the P-Nats from Pfitzner Stadium. The Cats came into the contest with a slim half-game lead over the Nats and the stage was set for an evenly-matched duel for Northern Division supremacy.

At the end of the night, however, the Hillcats proved that their fast start in 2009 is not just a flash in the pan by manhandling the home team in front of 3,659 fans at the Pfitz.

The Hillcats started swinging the sticks early and the hits kept coming all night. Colton Willems (1-3) began the night with a 1.69 ERA, but too many of his pitches found the fat part of the plate and the powerful Cats lineup did not miss a one. Jose De Los Santos led off the first with a triple, scoring on Jordy Mercer's double for the first run of the ballgame, and that was just the beginning.

All in all, the Cats tallied 19 hits on the night, nine of those for extra bases, as every Cat starter but one had recorded a multi-hit game by the time fans stood for "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch on Military Appreciation Night at the ballpark.

It was a night that the P-Nats have not had the displeasure of taking part in too often this season as their pitching staff came into the game second in the Carolina League with a 3.77 ERA. The crooked numbers by the Hillcat offense were simply too much for the P-Nats to handle.

Phenom Pedro Alvarez hit his ninth home run of the year, one of the longest home runs recorded at the Pfitz this season, clearing the right field fence by a good 75 feet. Alvarez finished just a triple shy of the cycle on the evening.

On the offensive for the P-Nats, the highlights were few, but Michael Burgess blasted his ninth home run of the season in the second inning, a deep drive to dead center field off Hillcats starter Matt McSwain (4-1) who worked six solid innings, striking out seven and allowing just two runs. Chris Marrero also added a dinger of his own as he took reliever Dustin Molleken deep in the eighth inning, his sixth of the season.

Dan Lyons also drove in his ninth run of the season with a double off the center field wall in the fifth inning.

These two teams will return to the Pfitz Saturday night for game two of this three-game set as Will Atwood will get the nod for the P-Nats looking to build off the six scoreless innings he threw in his last outing in Kinston.

Saturday is Fireworks Night at the Pfitz, so come on out to the ballpark for the 6:35 ET first pitch to enjoy the beautiful weather and the showdown between the Hillcats and P-Nats. After the final out, stay for the fireworks extravaganza and kids can run the bases courtesy of Glory Days Grill.

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 May 22, 2009


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