CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Nats Split DH, End Road Trip 6-1

Published on May 10, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, NC- Under blue skies in Winston-Salem, the P-Nats took to the field on Sunday afternoon looking to put the proverbial cherry on what has been a sundae of a road trip so far. Beginning with a four-game sweep of Wilmington, the P-Nats blasted their way past the Dash on Friday night 12-4 thanks to five home runs from the starting nine.

A severe thunderstorm knocked out power and sent both teams home early on Saturday, but the Dash and Nats took part in a Mother's Day doubleheader from Wake Forest Baseball Park.

In game one, the Dash powered their way in front of the P-Nats thanks to three home runs, including a titanic two-run shot from centerfielder Jordan Danks to put the home team up 4-2 as the squads headed to the top of the seventh. The Dash looked poised to claim their first victory of the series, but Sean Rooney had decidedly different plans for the game's outcome, blasting the first pitch he saw from starter Levi Maxwell (0-5) over the fence in right-center field, a three-run home run that gave the Nationals a 5-4 lead.

Clint Everts came on in the bottom half of the inning to record a 1-2-3 frame, notching his first save of the season while giving starter Tom Milone (2-2) his second win of the season.

The victory ran the P-Nats' winning streak to nine in a row.

Game two featured another pitcher's duel between Charlie Shirek (5-0) and Colton Willems, who pitched six solid innings after his Carolina League debut last Tuesday in Wilmington. Willems (1-1) gave up three runs on three hits though all three of his runs were unearned. He also struck out four and walked none.

Willems retired the side in every inning but the second, but that was enough for the Dash and Shirek. Logan Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to knock in a run then the big blow came off the bat of Dale Mollenhauer in the form of a two-run double off the left field wall, making it 3-0.

The Nats would respond in the fourth with Danny Espinosa scoring on a Greg Paiml error and Sean Rooney nearly knocking his third home run of the series, a double to knock in Chris Marrero.

Shirek would shut down the Nats' bats giving way to Kevin Asselin, making his Carolina League debut, who recorded the final 1 1/3 innings to give the Dash the 3-2 win.

The Nats will return to the Pfitz for a three-game homestand starting Tuesday morning with a special start time of 11:00 a.m. against the Salem Red Sox.

For more information on tickets, daily promotions, or to find 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 May 10, 2009


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