CarL1 Potomac Nationals

One bad inning dooms P-Nats

Published on August 27, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Things could be going better for the Potomac Nationals heading into the final week of the season. Potomac could not maintain a 2-0 lead over the Salem Avalanche Wednesday night at Pfitzner Stadium eventually losing 3-2. The loss was the Nationals fifth in their last six games at home.

With a light drizzle falling continuously throughout the night, the weather posed a legitimate threat to the game. Even with the moisture though, the P-Nats got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Andrew Lefave was hit by a Chad Wagler pitch, and he proceeded to steal second base to get into scoring position. Stephen King recorded his seventh RBI as a P-Nat on a base hit to drive in Lefave and take a 1-0 lead.

The Nats doubled the score in the bottom of the fourth when Dee Brown led off with a double and came around to score on Michael Burgess' RBI groundout. However, the bats would disappear not only against Wagler but also for the rest of the night. Wagler (5-4) held his opposition in check over 5 2/3 innings allowing just two runs on three hits en route to the victory.

Just as the Nationals had extended the lead, Salem woke up with the bats against one of the more consistent Nats' pitchers. The Avalanche quickly erased the 2-0 deficit in the top of the fifth started by an alarming five consecutive singles. Jhon Florentino and Collin DeLome were at first and second with nobody out when Mark Ori laced a run-scoring single. Ori, however, took an aggressive turn at first and was tagged out by Lefave. The hits, though, did not seize. Koby Clemens followed with an RBI single tying the score at 2-2, and Jimmy Van Ostrand's sacrifice fly proved to be the eventual game-winner. Before the Nationals could blink, they were behind 3-2.

For the first time in eight starts, Atilano (5-2) did not make it through the fifth inning. The right-hander went 4 1/3 and was handed with just his second loss of the season surrendering three runs on six hits.

Salem's relievers held strong retiring nine out of the last ten hitters they faced. Bryan Hallberg pitched the ninth for his sixth save of the season despite a one-out single from Brown. Boomer Whiting pinch ran for Brown but was thrown out trying to steal second base.

Tomorrow's series finale with Salem concludes Potomac's seven-game home stand and represents the final regular season game at Pfitzner Stadium this year. Right-hander Erick Arnesen (3-3, 4.21) is slated to start for the Nationals opposite lefty Sergio Severino (1-5, 7.11) from the Avalanche. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from August 27, 2008


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