CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Nats Take Home Series Behind Atwood's Outing

Published on July 5, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- The P-Nats came into the final game of their series with the Frederick Keys without a series win at Pfitzner Stadium since the first weekend in May. Needing a victory to secure the advantage in the four-game set, the team sent strikeout artist Will Atwood to the mound who was in search of his fourth win of the season. Atwood did not disappoint, striking out eight as the bullpen held on to take the contest and the series from Frederick, 4-3.

Atwood came into the game leading the team in strikeouts, and the South Carolina southpaw had his swing-and-miss pitch working early. His slow curveball had the Keys' batters well out in front of his breaking pitches, and the visitors could not catch up to his hard fastball. Atwood (4-6) went just five innings, throwing 84 pitches, but his eight strikeouts were a season-high for the lefty as he allowed just one run on four hits.

The top of the first was a bit shaky for Atwood, however, as Ryan Adams, the second batter of the game, punished an Atwood offering over the left-field wall to give the Keys an early 1-0 lead.

The P-Nats would respond right away in the bottom half of the inning against Zach Britton (4-3) as the home team loaded the bases with nobody out, scoring a run on a Chris Marrero RBI groundout to knot the game at one.

The scoring would cease as Britton and Atwood controlled the game for the next three innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Potomac would finally break through against Britton. Boomer Whiting was hit by a pitch, and Sean Rooney would lash a double down the right-field line to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Danny Espinosa would rocket a shot off the glove of Pedro Florimon, Jr. to score Whiting, and Marrero would follow with a sacrifice fly to give the P-Nats a 3-1 lead.

A Tyler Henson single in the sixth would cut the Nats' lead in half, but once again the Nats would snatch that run right back in the next half inning. Devin Ivany doubled to lead off the frame and moved to third on a Stephen King groundout. The P-Nats then employed a bit of trickery with Dan Lyons at the dish. As Britton fired a pitch to home, Ivany dashed to the plate as Lyons put down a beautiful bunt down the first base line. The suicide squeeze worked to perfection, giving the P-Nats a 4-2 advantage.

Though the Keys would once again chop the lead in half with a Brandon Waring single in the seventh, Atahualpa Severino would come in to slam the door on the Keys, throwing two scoreless frames to nail down his team-leading 11th save of the season.

Francisco Plasencia extended his season-high hitting streak to 13 games with an eighth inning double off Keys reliever Pat Egan.

The Nats will enjoy an off-day before heading back on the road once again as a six game trip to Myrtle Beach and Kinston looms large for the top road team in the Carolina League.

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 July 5, 2009


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