CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Hit Batter in Ninth Costs Nats Series Sweep

Published on August 29, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(FREDERICK, MD) Pedro Florimon was hit by a 1-2 breaking ball with thebases loaded in the ninth inning that sent the Frederick Keys to a 7-6victory on Sunday afternoon at Harry Grove Stadium. The loss shrunk theNats' first place lead to half a game, with the Wilmington Blue Rocksscheduled to play Sunday night in Lynchburg.

A seesaw battle that saw the ejection of Nationals' manager GaryCathcart in the second inning was tied for the last time on TylerMoore's 43rd double. Derek Norris scored to make it 6-6, where it wouldstay until the ninth.Potomac jumped out in front in the first when Chris Curran led off thegame with his first home run of the season.

The Keys answered rightback when Ronnie Welty hit a first-inning home run for the secondstraight game.The P-Nats got another in the second frame, but were again answered bythe Keys. Sean Nicol singled to score Jamar Walton with two outs, butMiguel Abreu's leadoff homer knotted the score at two.

Potomac scored three unearned runs in the fourth inning against Keysstarter Kenny Moreland. A one-out single by Jose Lozada preceded adouble from Dan Lyons. Nicol then grounded to Billy Rowell at third;Rowell caught Lozada well of the bag and ran him into a pickle. But theKeys' third baseman dropped the ball on the exchange and Lozadascampered home to make it 3-2. Curran then hit a sacrifice fly tocenter before Derek Norris's double capped the scoring in the frame andmade it 5-2.

Following the game's pattern, the Keys fired right back.Rowell homered to open the inning before Abreu singled. A Townsenddouble made it 5-4 heading to the fifth.The Nats were retired in order in their half of the fifth before theKeys rallied to take the lead. Back-to-back singles from Welty andRowell and a throwing error by Jamar Walton put the pair at second andthird with no outs. A pair of sacrifice flies by Abreu and Florimonscored two and staked the Keys to a lead.Moore's league-leading 43rd double and 107th RBI tied the game in theseventh and scored Norris, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a runscored.

Testa, who retired Buck Britton to end the eighth in relief ofCarlos Martinez - who was dominant for 2.2 innings out of the pen -issued a one-out walk to Welty in the ninth. After Rowell singled toput runners at the corners with one out, the Nationals intentionallywalked Abreu to load the bases. Testa dug deep and struck out Townsendon a 3-2 pitch for a massive second out. But a two-strike breaking ballclipped Florimon on the left shoulder and salvaged the series finalefor the Keys.

After an off day Monday, the P-Nats head to Salem for five games infour days against the reeling Sox. Tuesday's doubleheader begins at5:35; the broadcast can be heard beginning at 5:20.

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Carolina League Stories from August 29, 2010


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