CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Kinston takes finale to earn split

July 24, 2008 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va.- Often times when one team commits more errors than their opponent they end up on the losing end. Potomac could not get out of its own way on Thursday night at Pfitzner Stadium with three defensive errors resulting in a 7-5 loss to the Kinston Indians. The K-Tribe's victory earned them a split in the four-game series.

Ross Detwiler's 20th start of the season was a nightmarish outing. It did not take long for Kinston to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Already up 1-0 in the second inning, Brian Juhl launched a two-run homer over the left field wall for just his third shot of the year. Later in the frame, Detwiler struggled with his control hitting two batters and Nick Weglarz made him pay with a run-scoring single.

Thanks to a Kinston error in the third, Potomac was able to cut the deficit in half. Jhonatan Solano found himself standing at second base after a throwing error from third baseman Jared Goedert, and the catcher scored one batter later on Boomer Whiting's RBI base hit. After Whiting stole second base, he scored on Michael Martinez's subsequent single.

However, the top of the fifth proved to be the Nationals downfall. All three Potomac errors came in the inning and Kinston capitalized sending nine hitters to the plate resulting in three runs off of Detwiler. Martinez's usual reliable glove betrayed him on a ground ball from Goedert to start the disaster. Then, with two on and two outs, Trevor Lawhorn fielded a routine ground ball at third, but his throw to first was low escaping Andrew Lefave allowing two runs to score.

That play ran Detwiler (5-7) out of the game after 4 2/3 innings. The southpaw absorbed his fourth straight loss, but of the seven runs he allowed, only four were earned. Clint Everts entered the game to stop the floodgates but the first batter he faced reached on Lefave's error allowing another run to score. By the time Everts was out of the jam, the P-Nats were in a 7-2 hole.

Everts was brilliant over 3 1/3 shutout innings of relief. The right-hander struck out seven of eight hitters at one point including seven straight from two outs in the fifth inning to the end of the seventh.

Trailing 7-5, Potomac put the tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth against Kinston closer Vinnie Pestano. Lawhorn was walked and Dan Lyons was hit by a pitch, but Whiting hit into a fielder's choice and Martinez struck out looking ending the threat and the game. With the loss, the Nationals fell to 0-31 when trailing after eight innings.

Indians start man Carlton Smith earned the victory with 5 2/3 innings. Smith (8-5) was not his sharpest allowing five runs on seven hits but received ample contributions from his offense.

Potomac travels to Frederick tomorrow to face the Keys for a quick three-game set before returning home on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from July 24, 2008


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