CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Nats Drop Ninth-Inning Heartbreaker to Keys

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


WOODBRIDGE, Va- With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the tying runs in scoring position, Chris Marrero had taken Keys closer Brandon Cooney as far as the at-bat could go. Cooney hurled the 3-2 pitch towards the plate and Marrero lashed a shot into right field, bringing the Pfitzner Stadium faithful to their feet. The ball sunk towards the turf, but Keys right fielder David Cash raced underneath it to make the catch, crushing the P-Nats' hopes for a comeback, sending the home team to a 7-5 loss in game two of their three-game set with the Keys.

Trevor Holder, the Nationals third-round pick in the 2009 draft, got the nod on the hill and could not overcome a tough outing in his third start in the Carolina League. The Keys rapped out six hits in the top of the first inning, plating four runs before the P-Nats had a chance to pick up the lumber. Robbie Widlansky, Tyler Henson, and Ryan Adams all collected run-scoring hits in the initial frame, and the Keys would tack on another tally in the second to take a sizable early advantage in this contest.

Holder lasted just 1 2/3 innings in this game, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits while striking out two.

But with plenty of baseball left to play, the P-Nats would begin to chip away at the Keys lead. Jesus Valdez lined an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning to get the P-Nats on the board, and with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Michael Martinez launched a bases-clearing triple over the head of the centerfielder Matt Angle to get Potomac back into the game, cutting the score to 5-4.

The lion's share of the work in this game came from the Potomac bullpen, and they proved to the rest of the league that they are not to be messed with. Justin Phillabaum shook off a few shaky appearances to throw 3 1/3 stellar shutout innings, saving the rest of the bullpen as well as gaining confidence as the season progresses. Jesse Estrada followed with a season-high four innings of his own, allowing just two runs, one of them being earned while striking out two.

The score would stay 5-4 until the bottom of the seventh inning when Jesus Valdez chopped a ground ball over the head of Widlansky at first to score Martinez with the tying run. Keys reliever Eddie Gamboa would settle down with runners on the corners and just one out, however, to keep the game knotted at five.

Fast forward to the top of the ninth when a single and an error put two runners on for the Keys against Estrada (0-3), and Henson then blooped a single into right field to give the Keys a 6-5 lead. Bobby Stevens then stepped to the dish and lobbed a Texas-Leaguer into no-man's land in centerfield to add another run on the board.

The P-Nats did not go quietly in the ninth as a pair of singles from Espinosa and Burgess put two on with two out, and a perfectly executed double-steal put both men in scoring position, but then Cooney coaxed Marrero's line drive to right to end the ballgame and force a rubber game tomorrow night from Pfitzner Stadium.

Espinosa on the day went 2-for-3 with a run scored, two walks, and three stolen bases to extend his hitting streak to a season-high nine games.

The first-place Wilmington Blue Rocks swept a doubleheader from the Winston-Salem Dash from Frawley Stadium and, combined with the Potomac defeat, now hold a 2 1/2 game lead in the Northern Division.

The final game of the homestand will commence on Thursday, and it will be the second opporunity for P-Nats fans to partake in Thursday Cheers at Pfitzner Stadium! Remember, select beverages will be just $1, so come on down and bring a friend to root, root, root for the home team! It will also be Ladies Night as well as Virginia Lottery Second Chance Thursday, so there are tons of money-saving deals for all Potomac Nationals fans!

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 August 12, 2009


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