CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Jewett notches 1,000th win

Published on April 30, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- History was made at Pfitzner Stadium Thursday night in the doubleheader between the P-Nats and Blue Rocks as Nationals' manager Trent Jewett notched the 1,000th win of his managerial career with a 6-0 victory in game two behind a stellar performance on the mound from starter Jeff Mandel.

Jewett entered the day with his 16-year Minor League managerial record sitting at 999-999. Beginning his coaching career with the Welland Pirates of the New York-Penn League in 1992, Jewett's odyssey has brought him to Potomac to take the helm of the 2008 Carolina League champions.

In game one, Jewett sent lefty Tom Milone to the mound against a powerful Blue Rocks lineup led by number two overall pick in 2007, Mike Moustakas. Milone (1-2) tossed six innings in the contest, but was battered for four runs on 11 hits in his time on the hill.

The Nats' bats were unable to get anything going against Blue Rock starter Mario Santiago (1-2), who threw six innings of one run ball, striking out six in the process, earning his first victory of the season by the score of 4-1.

Though Santiago stifled the Nationals, the home team still found themselves within striking distance in the ninth inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Reliever Brandon Sisk was able to shut the door, however, inducing two pop-ups and a strikeout as the Nats' rally fell short.

In game two, Potomac came out of the gate determined to make history for their skipper as three Nationals batters crossed the plate in the first, punctuated by a Jesus Valdez two-run single over the head of Moustakas to give the Nats a 3-0 lead.

That would be more than enough support for starter Jeff Mandel (2-1) who kept the Blue Rocks at bay with an array of sharp, breaking sliders and pinpoint control of his fastball. Though Mandel only struck out one in his complete-game four-hitter, the big right-hander induced many weak pop-ups and soft ground balls to keep his pitch count low. Mandel needed only 75 pitches to record his first shutout of the season, and the second by the P-Nats thus far in 2009.

The Nationals also flashed the leather behind their starting pitcher, highlighted by two sensational plays by second baseman Dan Nelson, one spearing a searing liner to his right and the other corralling a wicked chopper to his left, to complement a full-extension catch by Aaron Seuss in left field two innings earlier.

With the 6-0 win, the overall record for the P-Nats moves to 11-10, but the night belonged to Jewett as he joined select company in earning his 1,000th career managerial victory.

One note to pass on to P-Nats fans: left-handed reliever Joe Beimel of the Washington Nationals will be joining the P-Nats on a rehab assignment starting tomorrow night. Beimel owns a 1.23 ERA in eight games with the Nationals and will assume the role of closer for a beleaguered Nats bullpen when he returns to the big club. We will have more information on this move in the morning.

The Nationals will be back at the Pfitz tomorrow night as they welcome the Frederick Keys to Woodbridge to begin a three-game set with game time set for 7:05 ET. Brad Meyers will toe the rubber once more for the home team as he looks to build on his sensational outing last Friday night against those same Keys in Frederick where he baffled the Baltimore affiliate for 7 2/3 shutout innings en route to a 4-0 P-Nat victory.

Friday nights at Pfitzner Stadium means that it is Freebie Friday where the Potomac Nationals will be giving away free team wall calendars to the first 1,000 fans through the gates.

For more information on tickets, daily promotions, and everything to satisfy your thirst for P-Nat baseball, call (703) 590-2311 or log onto www.potomacnationals.com to join the party!

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Carolina League Stories from April 30, 2009


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