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CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats Fall in Series Opener with Kinston

July 10, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


KINSTON, NC- Through the first six games of the season between the Kinston Indians and Potomac Nationals, five of the contests had been decided by one run while the other had been a relative blowout, a two-run affair from Pfitzner Stadium. In game one of the three-game set between the two ballclubs, the K-Tribe would strike early and often, putting the P-Nats away behind a phenomenal debut from Alexander Perez, 6-1 from historic Grainger Stadium.

The K-Tribe wasted no time in getting runs on the board in the bottom in the first, taking advantage of some suspect P-Nats defense. With two outs and two on, Roman Pena lofted a fly ball to no-man's land in left field. Danny Espinosa and Jesus Valdez converged at the same time with the ball glancing off the glove of Valdez for an error to bring in a run. Ronald Rivas would knock an RBI single to push the K-Tribe lead to 2-0.

The home team would tack on two more in the bottom of the third off starter Adam Carr. Carr, though a reliever by trade, started the game on the mound for the P-Nats as it would be a bullpen-by-committee for Potomac in the series opener. Carr would last three innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits.

Alexander Perez would make quite a Carolina League debut for the K-Tribe, pitching six scoreless frames, surrendering six hits while striking out six P-Nat batters. The 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic would use his knee-buckling curveball and solid changeup to frustrate the Nats' batters all night.

Lonnie Chisenhall would lead off the fourth inning with a single to center and advance to third on a single by Ole Sheldon. An RBI fielder's choice from Pena would plate another run and Lucas Montero would blast a double to deep right-center field to push Pena across making it a 4-0 Kinston lead.

Jesse Estrada would toss two scoreless frames in relief of Carr, and Chris Rivera would escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam and end up throwing two innings, allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly.

Catcher Doug Pickens would blast his second home run of the season off knuckleballing outfielder Aaron Seuss to make the K-Tribe lead 6-0.

The P-Nats would avoid the shutout in the top of the ninth as Francisco Plasencia would race home on a Cord Phelps error as tempers would then flare between Phelps and Devin Ivany. Ivany slid hard into second base to break up the double play, forcing the poor throw from Phelps that allowed Plasencia to score. Cooler heads would eventually prevail as both players would have to be restrained.

Plasencia would go 1-for-3 on the ballgame with a second-inning single to extend his league-leading hitting streak to 17 games.

These two teams will be right back at Grainger Stadium Saturday night with first pitch slated 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.

Kids, space is still available for the Potomac Nationals Baseball Camp scheduled for July 27-29, so sign up for some phenomenal instruction on the fundamentals of the game of baseball from P-Nats players and coaches.

For more information on the Baseball Camp, tickets, daily promotions at Pfitzner Stadium, 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 10, 2009


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