CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Nationals notch another win against Keys

Published on June 21, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va.- The Frederick Keys were the only club the Potomac Nationals had a losing record against in the first half of the 2008 season. The club was 4-7 and had lost five of the last six games to its Northern Division rivals prior to the start of this weekend's three-game series. Now the P-Nats have taken two straight from the Keys as the offense pounded out six runs on 12 hits and the pitching stifled the Frederick offense for a second consecutive night, and Potomac won game two of the series 6-2 on Saturday night at Pfitzner Stadium.

For the second straight night, Bill Rhinehart homered in his first at-bat of the game, this time leading off the bottom of the second inning. Two batters later, Francisco Plasencia hit his third home run, a two-out, solo shot to right making it a 2-0 Potomac lead.

The Keys would get on the board in the top of the third inning against rehabbing Washington Nationals left-hander Odalis Perez. Miguel Abreu hit a one-out double into the right-center field gap and came home to score on Todd Davison's RBI single down the right field line cutting the lead in half at 2-1.

Potomac distanced itself in the bottom of the inning with a two-out rally. Carolina League All-Star Edgardo Baez incited the rally with a double to left-center field and came home on a Leonard Davis single, just over the infield into left-center making it 3-1 P-Nats. It was the first of three RBI on the night for the Potomac designated hitter. Rhinehart struck again in the third with a double just to the left of center field plating Davis with a 4-1 Nationals edge.

Davis drove in the final two runs on the night for the P-Nats with a double to left-center in the fifth and a one-out, solo home run to right in the seventh falling just a triple short of the cycle.

Perez was solid over his four innings giving up just the one run on two hits while striking out five and walking none. He threw 56 pitches in his first appearance since being placed on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder tendonitis by Washington on June 4.

Joe Norrito (5-1) earned the win and combined with two other relievers to limit the Keys to just one run on five hits in five innings.

The Nationals improved to a season-best 17 games over .500 at 46-29 and extended their lead in the Northern Division to two games in the second half.

Potomac and Frederick will conclude their three-game series tomorrow night as right-hander Jeff Madel (1-0) takes the hill for the P-Nats opposite righty Brandon Erbe (6-5). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

Check out the Potomac Nationals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from June 21, 2008


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