CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Offense Invisible Again in 10-1 Loss

Published on August 3, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(SALEM, VA) The Potomac Nationals began a six-game road trip Tuesday night. After two games, it appears that the offense missed the bus to Salem. The Nationals have mustered just five hits in two nights, and after Wednesday's 10-1 shellacking the P-Nats have been outscored 13-1 over 18 innings. An eight-run fifth buried Potomac Wednesday and helped earn Stolmy Pimentel his first win in 20 starts in 2011.

The early innings of Wednesday's game were a litany of missed opportunities for Salem against Nationals starter Paul Demny. Pimentel, meanwhile, controlled the P-Nats through five innings.

The Red Sox stranded seven men on base through the first four innings, but would flip that script in the fifth. The first four batters roped hits off Demny in the fifth, including a two-run home run from Bryce Brentz that made it 3-0 Salem. It was Brentz's third home run of the series; he has now driven in five runs in two games.

Two more hits after the Brentz homer chased Demny, who gave way to Rob Wort. Wort struck out Josue Peley for the second out of the fifth, but consecutive two-out walks gifted the Sox their fourth run. Derrik Gibson worked the bases-loaded free pass after a ten-pitch battle in which he fouled off four two-strike offerings. Peter Hissey then rocked his second double off the inning, a high shot just off the wall in left field that caromed past Francisco Soriano and cleared the bases to make it 7-0.

Kolbrin Vitek followed with his second RBI single of the inning to end the scoring and put Salem ahead 8-0.

The Nationals got their only run of the game in the seventh off Pete Ruiz, and they did so without a hit. Zach Walters - who singled in the second for his second Potomac hit - walked to open the inning, stole second base and moved to third on Sandy Leon's groundout to first. Ruiz then fired a wild pitch that scored Walters and made it 8-1.

Salem (48-59, 17-21) tacked on two more runs in the seventh off Neil Holland, who has now allowed earned runs in four straight appearances.

Pimentel (1-3) allowed just two hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked two. Demny (7-10), meanwhile, never looked comfortable in the game and allowed five runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

With the loss and a Wilmington win, the P-Nats (50-57, 21-17) saw their second half lead over the Blue Rocks trimmed to six with 32 games to play.

Potomac will look to salvage the series finale with Cameron Selik on the mound Thursday night at 7:05. Ryan Pressly will make the start for the Sox.

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Carolina League Stories from August 3, 2011


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