CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats Game Notes for August 15

August 15, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


POTOMAC NATIONALS (28-19, 65-49) VS. WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS (29-17, 67-48)

RHP Brad Peacock (1-1, 6.60) vs. LHP Danny Duffy (8-3, 3.51)

August 15, 2009 -- 6:05 p.m. Judy Johnson Field @ Daniel S. Frawley Stadium - Wilmington, Delaware Game #115/Road #59

TODAY: The Potomac Nationals look to take command of this important weekend series with the first-place Wilmington Blue Rocks from Judy Johnson Field with game two scheduled tonight at 6:05 p.m. This is the P-Nats 12th straight game against a divisional opponent with the Nationals now 4-7 against playoff contenders Wilmington and Frederick over the last week. The P-Nats still trail the Blue Rocks for the final playoff spot coming out of the Northern Division by just 1.5 games and can clinch their fourth series of the year against Wilmington with a victory tonight.

VS. THE ROCKS: The P-Nats clinched their second season series against a Northern Division rival after last night's 8-1 triumph over Wilmington. Potomac owns an 11-7 edge over the Blue Rocks including six consecutive victories from April 30-June 15. Potomac is still under .500 (4-6) on the year against their division rivals from the comforts of Pfitzner Stadium but have done well in Delaware where the Nationals are now 7-1 including four shutouts. The Nationals offense is hitting just .276 against Wilmington and have outscored the "Blue Crew" 17-1 in their last two victories over Brian Rupp's club. Eight different P-Nats (five currently on roster) own season batting averages over .300 against Rocks pitching including slugger Michael Burgess (.339) who is tied with Danny Espinosa with 12 RBI against Wilmington. Tom Milone's efforts (7.0IP, 0ER, 6K) in his last start against Wilmington helped Potomac stay alive for a playoff spot in the Northern Division. The P-Nats pitching staff has posted an ERA of 3.12 with six shutouts in 18 showdowns with Wilmington.

TODAY'S OPPOSING STARTER: LHP Danny Duffy, 20, was selected in the 3rd round of the 2007 June First-Year Player Draft out of Cabrillo High School in Lompoc, CA. The 6'2'' southpaw is off to a fast start with the Blue Rocks after dominating the lower levels of the Royals system to the tune of a 10-7 record with a 1.97 ERA in 28G/26GS with the AZL Royals and Low-A Burlington. Last year with the Bees, Duffy went 6-1 with an astounding 0.99 ERA over his final 11 starts to help the Bees reach the Midwest League playoffs. Burlington went on to win the championship and Duffy was crowned the Bees' Pitcher of the Year after finishing the year with the lowest ERA of any starting pitcher on the team (2.20). Entering this year, Duffy fanned 165 batters in just 119.0 IP and is Kansas City's #6 prospect according to the experts at Baseball America.

Duffy's initial experience in the Carolina League has been outstanding as he enters today's outing ranked 6th in the CL in ERA at 3.51 and is tied for 3rd in the circuit with eight victories in in 19 starts with the Blue Rocks. He represented Kansas City last month in St. Louis pitching for Team USA in the MLB Futures Game from Busch Stadium. In two games against Potomac, the young lefty has allowed 9 ER on 17 H in 9.0 IP with the P-Nats hitting .395 against him.

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Carolina League Stories from August 15, 2009


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