CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Nats Don't Stop 'Til They Get Enough, Blank Rocks 6-0

Published on June 25, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WILMINGTON, De- Looking to take full advantage of the second half's clean slate, the Potomac Nationals took the trip up I-95 to square off with their Northern Division rivals, the Wilmington Blue Rocks, to kick start the second season of Carolina League play. In their initial series at Frawley Stadium, the P-Nats swept the Blue Crew in a rain-soaked four-game set, three wins coming via the shutout. It was deja vu all over again in Thursday's series opener as the Nats blanked the Blue Rocks 6-0 behind a brilliant performance from lefty Will Atwood.

Atwood (3-5) enjoyed a career night on the mound, going a career-high seven scoreless innings allowing just four hits while striking out five and not walking a batter. His stinginess is slowly becoming something to write home about as Atwood has walked just two batters (one intentional) in his last 30 2/3 innings pitched. He has allowed just one intentional walk in the month of June, an incredible statistic considering his struggles in the month of April that saw his ERA balloon to over 20.00. As it stands after his victory, Atwood's has lowered his earned run average to a solid 4.90.

Blue Rock starter Alex Caldera (1-6) matched Atwood pitch for pitch in the first four innings, striking out three while allowing just one hit, but he suddenly lost his command and composure in the fifth. The P-Nats started jumping on his first-pitch strikes while laying off his breaking balls in the dirt.

Chris Marrero led off the fifth with a single, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Stephen King walked and Devin Ivany singled to left to load the bases with just one out. Up to the plate stepped Dan Nelson, a late addition to the Trent Jewett's lineup, who lined a 3-2 pitch into right field for a two-run single to put the P-Nats on the board. Boomer Whiting squeezed in another run to make it 3-0 as Caldera hit the showers early in this one.

With the way Atwood was pitching, three runs would have been plenty, but the P-Nats got greedy. In the sixth, Francisco Plasencia roped a one-out double, coming around to score on a two-bagger from Ivany. Nelson would notch his third RBI on a single to center to make it 5-0, and the second baseman would also blast his fourth home run of the season in the ninth inning to cap off a phenomenal day at the plate.

The shutout of the Blue Crew was the P-Nats' tenth of the season, five of which have come against Wilmington including four at Frawley Stadium.

These two teams will be right back here Friday night for game two with first pitch starting at 7:05 ET. You can catch all the action live on www.potomacnationals.com with Dan McGinn and Anthony Masterson starting with the pregame show at 6:45 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 25, 2009


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