CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Nationals Singing in the Rain, Run Win Streak to Five

Published on May 6, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WILMINGTON, Del.- Angered that the Potomac Nationals were actually able to play a game of baseball, a 5-3 victory over Wilmington, after three rainouts in four nights, Zeus, the Greek god of weather, woke up from his prolonged nap and immediately began firing thunderbolts in the direction of the Nationals and Blue Rocks, suspending game two of their scheduled doubleheader which will be completed tomorrow afternoon beginning at 5:05 ET.

In game one, the P-Nats rotation continued their mastery of Blue Rock batters as Jeff Mandel took to the hill and successfully built off his last appearance, a complete game shutout against this same Wilmington team. Mandel (3-1) kept the home team off balance with a fastball that hit both corners and a wicked breaking ball that had hitters flailing. He ran his shutout streak against Wilmington to 13 innings before allowing a leadoff home run to Anthony Seratelli in the fifth inning. All in all, Mandel tossed six innings, giving up just one run on three hits while striking out two. At one point, the Nationals had held the Blue Rocks scoreless for 21 consecutive innings dating back to their last series at Pfitzner Stadium.

Michael Burgess led the offensive charge for the P-Nats going 3-for-3, belting his sixth home run of the season in the sixth inning, and falling a triple short of the cycle. He had help from the cavalry as well with Danny Espinosa bashing his fourth home run of the season, a booming fly ball to right-center field in the sixth, and Chris Marrero who notched two hits on the day.

Though Mandel thoroughly dominated the Blue Rocks, the game turned into a nail biter in the ninth as Dan Leatherman was unable to record the final three outs, allowing two runs in the process. Atahualpa Severino was then asked to come in to hammer down the final out against the top two hitters in the Blue Rock lineup. He allowed an infield single to Mike Moustakas, but coaxed Clint Robinson into a groundout to second base to end the ballgame earning "Wahpah" his fifth save of the season.

Game two featured a pitcher's duel between starters Will Atwood and Everett Teaford who put bagel after bagel on the scoreboard while keeping one eye on the menacing storm approaching from the Maryland area.

Atwood recorded his best outing of the season, building off his solid start against Wilmington April 28 at Pfitzner Stadium. The southpaw tossed five shutout innings, only allowing three hits while striking out a season-high six.

Teaford matched him pitch for pitch, however, finishing six shutout innings, giving up six hits while striking out a season-high eight. His defense also turned three double plays in the first three innings to quell P-Nats rallies.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, the apocalyptic thunder storm approaching finally made its way to Wilmington as the skies opened up, forcing the umpires to put the game under a delay which eventually turned into a suspension with the score tied at 0-0 as the rain continued to cascade down in torrents.

With the victory in game one and the Lynchburg game being suspended, the Nationals now share first place with the Hillcats atop the Carolina League Northern Division. Both clubs enter Thursday's action with identical 15-10 records.

The suspended game will be finished Thursday before the P-Nats and Blue Rocks scheduled nine-inning affair. The suspended game will begin at 5:05 ET while the final contest of the four-game series is still set to go on with first pitch at 6:35 ET.

Catch all the action live at 4:45 ET for the P-Nats pregame show with Dan McGinn and Anthony Masterson live on www.potomacnationals.com.

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 6, 2009


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