CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Offensive Funk Continues as Cats Top Nats

Published on May 29, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


LYNCHBURG, Va- After going 42 games without being shutout in 2009, the P-Nats have suddenly lost their offensive swagger. The P-Nats were blanked by the Kinston Indians Wednesday evening 1-0 and traveled to Lynchburg on Friday in another showdown with the first-place Hillcats. Sitting at a season-high four games out of first, the P-Nats could make a statement that they were not going to disappear out of the race for the first-half title. On Friday night, however, their championship hopes took a direct hit in another gut-wrenching 1-0 loss to Lynchburg at City Stadium.

Brad Meyers took to the hill for the P-Nats for the second time this week after starting the rain-shortened affair on Memorial Day and dazzled early. The 6'6" righty struck out the side in the first inning en route to tying his season and career-high with eight strikeouts. Meyers (3-2), like on Monday, suffered his second consecutive hard-luck defeat of the week, going 6 2/3 innings only allowing four hits and one run while lowering his Carolina League-leading ERA to 1.72. His lone mistake came on a second-inning high fastball to right-fielder Miles Durham who parked it over the left-field fence for his sixth home run of the season. The solo shot made it a 1-0 game that would shockingly once again be enough offense for the Hillcat bats.

Justin Wilson came into the contest struggling mightily, taking a 7.08 ERA into Friday's start. Wilson (3-3) could not find his command throughout five uneven innings, walking five. His wildness was overcome by two Hillcat double plays and a sterling full-extension grab by Durham in right. Wilson did not allow a hit until Sean Rooney's bounding ground ball up the middle leading off the fifth inning.

Harrison Bishop came on in relief to once again stymie the P-Nats for three scoreless frames, striking out four while stranding the tying run at third base with one out in the seventh inning. R.J. Rodriguez slammed the door in the ninth for his tenth save in as many tries.

The Nationals could muster only three hits, two of which were bunt singles, and were unable to take advantage of putting at least one man on base in every inning. Potomac has now fallen five games behind the Hillcats with two more games left in this three-game set.

These two teams will face each other once again Saturday night with first pitch slated for 6:05 ET. You can catch all the action live on www.potomacnationals.com with the pregame show starting at 5:45 ET. Dan McGinn and Anthony Masterson will have the call from City Stadium.

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Carolina League Stories from May 29, 2009


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