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CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Meyers Stumbles as Nats Drop Finale with Sox

May 14, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- The rubber game between the Salem Red Sox and the Potomac Nationals had all the makings of a quick evening for the visiting team. Brad Meyers got the nod to start the game as he carried a consecutive scoreless innings streak of 20 2/3 innings into the ballgame which earned him Carolina League Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of May 4-10. The Sox starter Jose Capellan on the other hand had struggled mightily throughout the year, coming into the game with an unsightly ERA of 6.15.

A back and forth contest followed between the two teams with each squad frequently clogging the bases. There were 25 hits combined in the contest, but the only numbers that mattered were the digits in the run column as the Sox, aided by a Kris Negron three-run home run in the seventh inning, took the finale on getaway day by the score of 7-6.

Meyers took to the hill looking to continue his dominance of the Carolina League, but the Sox missed the memo on Meyers' mastery, greeting him rudely in the top of the first. Before Meyers had a chance to catch his breath, the Sox had plated two runs in what was destined to be a short night for the P-Nats' right-hander. Meyers gave up a season-high nine hits in a season-low three innings.

The Nats' bats mounted a comeback to take their starter off the hook as Carlos Martinez tossed three scoreless stanzas to keep the home team in the ballgame.

Potomac scored one run in the third on Chris Marrero's fourth home run of the season, scratched out two in the fourth with some nifty baserunning as Jesus Valdez and Brian Peacock executed a perfect double-steal with Valdez taking home on the throw down to second. All in all, the P-Nats stole a season-high eight bases off Sox pitching in the game.

The Nationals took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Boomer Whiting sacrifice fly and a Dan Lyons suicide squeeze bunt, but the advantage was to be short-lived.

Cole Kimball (0-1) came onto pitch the seventh inning for his second appearance this season in a P-Nats uniform. He gave up a run on a double, but looked to get out of the inning with the lead intact after coaxing a foul pop up for the second out, but Negron came to the plate and blasted the first pitch he saw from the P-Nats flamethower over the left-field wall to give the Sox a lead they would not relinquish.

Robert Cuello (1-0) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless frames to get the win for the Sox.

The Nats mounted a rally in the ninth when Valdez knocked his third hit of the game to score Marrero, but Derrick Loop struck out Stephen King swinging to end the ballgame, handing the Nationals their first series loss since April 20-22 against Winston-Salem.

Potomac now boards the bus for a seven-game road trip that takes them through Myrtle Beach and Kinston. The opener with the Pelicans will take place at 7:05 ET Friday night from BB&T Coastal Field. You can catch all the action live on www.potomacnationals.com with Dan McGinn and Anthony Masterson starting at 6:40 ET.

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

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