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CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Nightmare First Inning Dooms P-Nats In Opener

August 28, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


KINSTON, NC- In a bizarre game from historic Grainger Stadium which saw, among other things, a pair of Potomac ejections, a run-scoring balk, and an errant bat (the flying creature, that is) that found its way to the infield dirt, the Potomac Nationals found themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided affair, dropping the initial game of a three-game series with the Kinston Indians by the score of 7-1.

Controversy began almost immediately in the opener as Devin Ivany, upset at a check-swing called-third strike appeal to the base umpire was ejected before the bottom of the first inning. Coming to the aid of his designated hitter, Trent Jewett pleaded his case to the umpire as well, but to no avail as the skipper earned himself an early shower before the K-Tribe had a chance to bat.

With two members of the Nationals already in the clubhouse, the P-Nats took the field as Adam Carr got the nod on the hill for the Nationals. Though Carr (2-6) walked the leadoff man in the first, he retired the next two men in the batting order, even going 0-2 to the cleanup hitter Ole Sheldon. But Sheldon took the 0-2 offering into left-center field for an RBI double, which subsequently opened the flood gates for the Kinston Indians.

After the double, eight consecutive Tribe batters reached base on four hits, three walks, and an error plating six more runs in the process to break the game wide open by the score of 7-0.

Russell Young was the beneficiary of the K-Tribe onslaught, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out a season-high seven batters. Young picked up his sixth win of the year in Friday's victory.

The Potomac bullpen pitched admirably in relief of Carr, going 7 1/3 innings, allowing just one run while striking out five as a combination of Patrick McCoy, Justin Phillabaum, and knuckleballer Aaron Seuss stymied the K-Tribe the rest of the way.

The P-Nats pushed a run across in the eighth inning as Danny Espinosa legged out a hustle double with one out in the frame, advancing to third on a ground out, and coming around to score a balk by Jonathan Holt.

Wilmington split a doubleheader with the Salem Red Sox on Friday, gaining a half-game on the P-Nats in the standings. As of Friday night, the Blue Rocks now lead the Nationals by three games with nine contests left in the regular season.

These two teams will be back tomorrow night with first pitch scheduled for 7 ET. You can catch all the action live on www.potomacnationals.com with Dan McGinn and Anthony Masterson starting with the pregame show at 6:40 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 August 28, 2009


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