Sports stats



CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Late rally falls short as Nats drop finale

August 9, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- With bragging rights to the Carolina League's Northern Division on the line at the Pfitz on Sunday afternoon, the Potomac Nationals made a statement early in the ballgame, pushing three runs across in the first three innings. The Wilmington Blue Rocks, however, finished strong in the finale of this four-game series, scoring six runs in the final four innings to win the game, and the series, from the P-Nats by the score of 6-4.

For the homestanding Nationals, the game began well enough as the team tallied two runs in the bottom of the first inning off Blue Rocks starter Ray Liotta thanks to back-to-back triples to lead off the ballgame from Michael Martinez and Danny Espinosa. Jesus Valdez laced an RBI single through the left side of the infield to give the P-Nats an early 2-0 advantage as the Nats picked up right where they left off in Saturday's 9-0 victory over the Blue Crew.

Espinosa blooped a single to right-center field in the third inning to bring home Boomer Whiting with the game's third run and the P-Nats appeared to be in complete control on a scorching Sunday afternoon.

Those early runs benefitted Nationals starter Brad Peacock, making his second start for the ballclub this season. Peacock had allowed just two hits through the first five innings, and the Blue Rock batters were not making solid contact with Peacock's effective mix of his repertoire of pitches.

But the right-hander ran into trouble in the sixth inning when, with two outs, the Blue Rocks rattled off four consecutive base hits to plate three runs to tie the contest at three, stunning the crowd at Pfitzner Stadium.

Peacock picked up a quality start, allowing three runs in six innings striking out a batter while walking one as well, but he would not factor into the decision in this contest.

The score stayed knotted at three until the top of the eighth inning when Wilmington would strike for three more runs to put the game in hand. With a runner on third and one down with Patrick McCoy on the mound for the Nats, the lefty quickly worked an 0-2 count in his favor against a dangerous hitter in Clint Robinson. The next pitch, however, went up and in to Robinson, and the ball traveled all the way to the backstop scoring the go-ahead run for the Rocks.

A Jamar Walton double would tack on two more as Wilmington took a 6-3 lead to the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Nats would not go quietly in this contest, however, as they mounted a rally with two down off reliever Brandon Sisk. Michael Burgess singled and Devin Ivany walked to put two baserunners aboard when Dan Nelson looped a liner into center field to score Burgess, making the score 6-4. But Sisk would induce a Tim Pahuta fly out to center with runners on second and third to end the game and give the Blue Rocks sole possession of first place in the Northern Division.

Check out the Potomac Nationals Statistics



Carolina League Stories from August 9, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central