CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Hood Scores Four Runs, Drives In A Pair Against Dash

Published on August 20, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(WOODBRIDGE, VA) Sandy Leon and Destin Hood were a two-man wrecking crew on Saturday night and led the Potomac Nationals to a doubleheader sweep over the Winston-Salem Dash. The P-Nats took game one 7-3 and the nightcap 4-1; over those two ballgames Leon reached base six times. The backstop was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, four walks and two runs scored. Hood, meanwhile, tied the second game with his 12th home run and went 3-for-6 with four runs scored, two driven in and a walk. The Nationals' pitching staff continued its excellent work and limited the Dash to eight hits over 14 innings, as Potomac moved six games clear of the Lynchburg Hillcats in the Carolina League's Northern Division playoff race.

In the opening game, starters Paul Demny and Andre Rienzo were both wild for the first two innings but escaped trouble. They combined for 80 pitches in the first two innings but allowed no runs in the first two frames. That changed in the third.

Tyler Saladino - who had five hits in his first six at-bats in the series - opened the third with a single. He then stole second and moved to third when Sandy Leon's throw flew right over the uncovered bag and into center field. When Andy Wilkins hit a ground ball past second baseman Jeff Kobernus, the Dash took a 1-0 lead.

The Nationals surged ahead for good in their half of the third. With one out, Franicsco Soriano singled before Jeff Kobernus walked. Hood walked up and crushed a double to left to score Soriano and tie the game. After Steven Souza walked to load the bases, Leon delivered a two-run double that pushed Potomac ahead 3-1.

Demny settled in from there. He retired seven of eight, and was only chased from the game when Zach Walters made an error at shortstop after an infield single opened the sixth. Josh Smoker allowed both inherited runners to score but no more and the Nats headed to the seventh leading 6-3.

Potomac had scored three more runs in the fifth, and again Hood and Leon were prominently involved. Hood's leadoff single was followed by walks to Steven Souza and Leon. Hood scored when he tried to steal third base and Luis Sierra dropped the attempted tag . Sean Nicol's grounder scored Souza, and Leon came home when Eury Perez roped a base hit into right field.

The Nats tacked on a run in the sixth when Leon singled home Jeff Kobernus; in the first game he was on base all four times and drove in three. Hector Nelo worked around a two-out walk to close down the 7-3 win.

In the nightcap, Juan Silverio set the tone for the Dash with a homer in the top of the first. But Hood tied it with a solo shot of his own, and the Nats never looked back. The Nationals pitchers did not allow another hit after the opening inning.

Eury Perez made a spectacular leaping catch to rob Silverio in the third and preserve a tie the Nationals would break for good in the fourth. Jeff Kobernus led off the inning with a triple and scored on a Leon groundout to push Potomac ahead 2-1.

In the sixth, Hood walked to open the inning. After Souza struck out, Leon was intentionally walked. Brian Peacock then hit a high chopper over the mound. Relief pitcher Taylor Thompson gloved behind the mound and fired off Peacock's helmet. On the error, Hood scored. Leon came home when Jose Lozada singled, and the Nats were ahead 4-1.

Marcos Frias got the last two outs of the sixth and retired Winston in the seventh to earn his second save.

The Nationals and Dash finish the series Sunday afternoon in Woodbridge at 1:05.

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Carolina League Stories from August 20, 2011


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