CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Nationals Game Notes August 12th

Published on August 12, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


TODAY: The Potomac Nationals play host to the Frederick Keys in game two of a three-game series from Pfitzner Stadium. This will be the P-Nats ninth straight game against a divisional opponent and the action will commence at 7:05 p.m. Potomac is just 3-5 against playoff contenders Frederick and Wilmington over the last week and remain a full game back of the Blue Rocks for first place in the Northern Division. Frederick is just 4-6 in August and are now 6.0 games behind the Rocks for a playoff spot.

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END: Washington First Round pick Drew Storen continued his ascension through the Nationals system as it was announced Tuesday afternoon that the No. 10 overall pick in the ‘09 draft was heading to Harrisburg to join a pitching staff loaded with former P-Nats. Storen made seven appearances with Potomac going 1-0 with two saves while striking out 11 in 10.0 IP. He walked just two, the first of his professional career, and held righties to just a .176 batting average against. Storen's promotion comes on the heels of another P-Nat on the move as it was also announced that former first-rounder Clint Everts was heading to Triple-A Syracuse after a terrific stint with the Senators. Everts went 3-1 with 4 saves in Harrisburg and did not allow a run in his final 10 appearances at Double-A. He finished his first stint with the Sens having allowed just 5 ER in 29.1 IP (1.53 ERA) and fanned 31 in 29.1 IP.

TODAY'S OPPOSING STARTER: LHP Rick Zagone, 22, was drafted in the 6th round of the 2008 First- Year Player Draft by the Baltimore Orioles out of the University of Missouri. The 6'4'' southpaw was once part of a strong rotation at the collegiate level that included two first round picks - Aaron Crow - 12th overall to Kansas City and Kyle Gibson - 22nd overall to Minnesota. Entering the draft in ‘08, Zagone was listed as Missouri's fourth best prospect and he turned in a very impressive debut with the Orioles' short-season squad in Aberdeen in 2008. The Crystal Lake, IL native won seven of his 15 appearances and went on to finish 8th in the NYPL in ERA at 2.89 in 65.1 IP. He also ranked third in both wins (7) and strikeouts (79) for the Ironbirds.

In 2009, Zagone began the year with Low-A Delmarva and was off to a tremendous start going 4-3 and a 1.93 ERA in his first nine appearances (eight starts) with the Shorebirds. But Zagone battled through an extended period of dead arm in the month of June and was unable to go 5.0 innings in any of his next four outings and his ERA ballooned to 4.66 after allowing 22 ER in just 12.0 IP. He was promoted to the Keys on June 25th and threw 6.0 shutout innings against Wilmington in his Carolina League debut He then faced Potomac in front of a Pfitzner Stadium record 10,789 fans on July 4th and suffered the loss after surrendering 4 ER on 8 H in just 4.2 IP in a 4-1 P-Nats victory. The southpaw is winless in eight outings with the Keys and is 0-2 with a robust 7.45 ERA in his four appearances away from Harry Grove Stadium. Despite some initial troubles, lefties are hitting just .167 (7-for-42) with just two extra-base hits against Zagone.

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