CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Mandel Superb as P-Nats Top Sox

Published on May 13, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- Coming off two consecutive losses, the P-Nats were in rare territory considering they hadn't lost two in a row since April 25-26 in Frederick, but here they were having dropped the finale to Winston-Salem and the opener to the Salem Red Sox at Pfitzner Stadium. What do you do when trying to get back on the winning track? Turn to one of your most consistent starters and let him take over.

The P-Nats employed that strategy to perfection Wednesday night as Jeff Mandel played the role of stopper, securing his fourth win of the season and giving the Nationals a 4-2 victory.

After a 7-1 loss in the opener against Salem, the Potomac bats needed someone or something to break them from their doldrums, and they received the wakeup call with a three-run blast off the bat of Danny Espinosa. Espinosa, scuffling a bit of late, connected on high fastball from Sox starter Kyle Weiland (1-3) and boomed his sixth home run of the season high over the batter's eye in center field to give the Nats a 4-0 lead that they would not relinquish thanks to some sterling pitching.

Mandel (4-1) breezed through six innings with his defense coming to the rescue the few times he allowed runners on base. Mandel coaxed the Red Sox into two double plays before leaving with one out in the sixth and a four-run lead.

He was relieved by Atahualpa Severino who had not pitched since May 6 and showed a bit of rust. "Wahpah" uncharacteristically walked two in his 1 2/3 innings of work, but wiggled out of jams in both the seventh and eighth innings, bridging the gap to new closer Clint Everts who continued his current mastery of Carolina League batters by tossing a scoreless ninth while striking out two in the process. Everts earned his second save of the season.

Sean Rooney went 3-for-3 to raise his average to .288 on the year. He came into last week's series with Winston-Salem hitting .167, but six hits in that series coupled with four in the first two games with Salem has made him an indispensable part of Trent Jewett's starting lineup.

These two teams will meet one more time at the Pfitz tomorrow night with first pitch at 7:05 ET. Carolina League ERA leader Brad Meyers will toe the rubber for the P-Nats as he looks to continue his scoreless streak which currently stands at 20 2/3 consecutive innings.

Thursday is Ladies Night at the Pfitz where all ladies get in for half price and will have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes all throughout the game. Tomorrow is also Second Chance Thursday sponsored by the Virginia Lottery where fans can bring in all non-winning lotto tickets for the chance to purchase buy-one-get-one free tickets.

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

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Carolina League Stories from May 13, 2009


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