CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Nats and Pelicans Play to Split of Double-Header

Published on June 7, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- The P-Nats and Pelicans once again took part in a double dip from Pfitzner Stadium on Sunday afternoon after the two teams each earned a victory on Saturday night. It was deja vu all over again as both squads took a "W" on Sunday with Potomac walking-off to complete a huge comeback in game one, and a solid performance from Pelican starter Cole Rohrbough led the Myrtle Beach charge in the second tilt.

In game one of Saturday's twinbill, the P-Nats nearly staged an improbable rally with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning after starting the frame down 7-2. A three-run shot by Stephen King and consecutive doubles by Tim Pahuta and Dan Nelson made it a one-run affair, but Michael Mehlich struck out Boomer Whiting to end the game and the Nationals' comeback.

Sunday's game one exhibited many similar symptoms as the P-Nats fell behind big early only to save their biggest hits for the final frame.

P-Nats starter Tom Milone struggled with his command in an uncharacteristic bout of wildness. Milone walked six in just 1 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, four of which were earned. Before Sunday, Milone's high-water mark for walks in a start was just three.

The Pelicans only recorded four hits in the contest, scoring runs off walks and errors as the Nats started off sloppy, falling behind 5-1 in the second inning.

Dan Leatherman would pitch 3 2/3 shutout frames and Martin Beno (1-2) would work out of traffic in the top of the seventh to keep the Pelicans off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

Down 5-2 entering the seventh, the Nats would stage a comeback and this time, they would not be denied. King led off with a single and Brian Peacock followed with a double. A two-run single by Danny Espinosa made it a 5-4 ballgame, and Chris Marrero blasted a double to right-center to score Espinosa to tie the game. After an intentional walk to Michael Burgess loaded the bases, Sean Rooney came through in the clutch, pushing a single through the middle of a drawn-in infield to give the P-Nats their second walk-off victory of the year.

Game two failed to live up to game one's drama, however, as the P-Nats were the ones to grab an early lead after Tim Pahuta's second inning RBI single, but the Pelicans persevered in the end to take game two by the score of 5-1.

Terrence Engles (0-1) made his season debut with the P-Nats after pitching very well at Hagerstown in 2009. He completed an uneven outing, going 4 1/3 innings giving up four runs on seven hits though he did strike out seven batters. He held the Pelicans off the board until the fourth when Donell Linares launched his sixth home run of the season to tie the game at one apiece.

He came back out for the fifth and was unable to escape a plethora of Pelican baserunners. With runners on second and third, reliever Chris Rivera came into the ballgame and allowed a two-run single to slugger Cody Johnson. All in all, four runs would score in the inning to push the Pelican advantage to 5-1 which is where the score would stay as the two teams played to a split in their four contests this weekend.

Rohrbough (3-3) went 5 2/3 innings, giving up just one earned run to avenge a May loss at the hands of the P-Nats.

With the Lynchburg Hillcats losing two to the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Sunday, the P-Nats gained a game on the first-place Hillcats, now trailing by just four games for the first half title.

The P-Nats enjoy a well-deserved off day on Monday before welcoming in the first-place Winston-Salem Dash on Tuesday night with first pitch at 7:05 ET.

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

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Carolina League Stories from June 7, 2009


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