CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Late Rally Sparks Nationals in Opener

Published on April 28, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- It started with a long bomb and ended with a botched ground ball, but the P-Nats will take a win any way they can get it, capitalizing on two late Wilmington errors to take the series opener from the Blue Rocks by the score of 7-6.

Danny Espinosa got the party started in the first by launching his first home run as a professional, a deep drive to right-center field, to give the P-Nats an early 2-0 lead. Those runs proved to be plenty for Nationals' starter Will Atwood who turned in his best performance of the season tossing 6 1/3 innings giving up three runs, two of which were let in after he had departed the game in the seventh inning, on only four hits. Atwood mixed in his slow breaking pitches with a sharp two-seam fastball to keep the eager Blue Rock hitters off balance for most of the night.

Another long home run deep into the Virginia night by Jesus Valdez, his second of the season, gave the P-Nats a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning as Atwood was cruising. The young lefty was in line for his first win of the season before the Potomac bullpen ran into trouble in the seventh inning.

A combination of Martin Beno and Dan Leatherman (1-0) could not hold the lead, giving up three runs on six hits in 1 2/3 innings. Leatherman, however, earned the win when the P-Nats' offense caught some lucky breaks and took advantage of Wilmington's shoddy defense in the bottom of the eighth inning.

After the Blue Rocks had taken a 6-5 lead in the top of the inning, Tim Pahuta blooped a one-out single to left to give the P-Nats life. Dan Nelson roped a shot down the third base line, but was robbed by the third baseman Anthony Seratelli on a diving stop. Seratelli, however, was unable to complete the web gem as his throw to first sailed high over the first baseman Clint Robinson's head and the P-Nats all of a sudden had runners on second and third with two down.

That brought the left fielder Boomer Whiting to the plate. Whiting with ice in his veins, laced a shot up the middle. The shortstop Jeff Bianchi made a good play on the ball, but was throw skipped over Robinson's glove, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score, giving the home team a 7-6 lead.

With the game hanging in the balance, manager Trent Jewett went to his hard-throwing lefty Atahualpa Severino to close out the contest. Severino rose to the challenge, needing few pitches to retire the side in order, notching his third save of the season.

With the win, the P-Nats move over .500 with a 10-9 record, good for second in the Carolina League Northern Division.

The P-Nats and Blue Rocks return to the Pfitz for game two of the three-game set tomorrow night with the first pitch at 7:05 ET. Lefty Tom Milone will go for his second win of the season. It will also be Belly Buster Night at the ballpark where $12 gets you a grandstand ticket and an all-you-can-eat buffet of burritos courtesy of Moe's Southwest Grill as well as hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and popcorn while supplies last.

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Carolina League Stories from April 28, 2009


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