CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats Pound Keys, Make Beautiful Music

Published on May 2, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- Fresh off their 13-inning marathon a night earlier which culminated in a Jesus Valdez three-run walk-off home run to give the home team an 8-6 victory, the Nationals and Keys returned to the Pfitz on Saturday night with more fireworks in store.

The game had all the makings of a classic pitcher's duel through the first five innings as Erik Arnesen and Pedro Beato went pitch for pitch, neither hurler wanting to give an inch to the opposing squad. Arnesen (3-1) and Beato (1-3) squared off last Sunday in Frederick with Beato besting Arnesen in a game the P-Nats ended up losing 13-7. Arnesen's defense deserted him in that start, only allowing two earned runs out of the seven he surrendered.

With the score 1-0 in favor of Frederick, the P-Nat offense suddenly exploded for five runs in the fifth. Boomer Whiting got the rally going with a double off the left-center field wall and ended up scoring on a bases-loaded walk as Beato began to lose sight of the strike zone.

As Beato fumbled with his command, P-Nat outfielder Francisco Plasencia made him pay in a big way, slicing a bases-loaded double down the left-field line, scoring two and putting Potomac in the lead by the score of 3-1.

With the next batter Jesus Valdez at the plate the Keys defense, their Achilles' heel in six games thus far with the Nationals (15 errors in six games), deserted them once again as second baseman Matt Tucker could not get his glove on a sharp ground ball allowing two more runners to score to make the game 5-1.

Plasencia also made his mark in the field, gunning down Tyler Henson as he tried to stretch a double into a triple in the fourth and again in the sixth as he began a perfect relay to nail Bobby Stevens at home to keep the score 5-2.

Frederick would not go quietly into the good night, notching single runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, keeping the Keys within shouting distance of the Nationals. Whenever the Keys would strike, however, the Nats would respond in a powerful manner.

Danny Espinosa launched his third home run of the year high over the third tier of billboards in right field in the seventh, and Dan Nelson knocked his second homer in as many games, blasting a solo shot over the left-center field wall to push the P-Nat lead to 8-4 which is where the score would stay as Atahualpa Severino recorded the final six outs for his fourth save of the season.

The Nationals will go for their first sweep of the season Sunday as these two teams meet for the finale of their three game set at Pfitzner Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 ET. Lefty Will Atwood will start on the mound for the P-Nats as he looks to record his first win of the season after a strong showing Tuesday against Wilmington.

It will be Family Funday Sunday at Pfitzner Stadium with players signing autographs on the concourse before the game and kids running the bases after the final out is recorded. For more information on tickets, daily promotions, and everything to satisfy your P-Nats needs, call (703) 590-2311 or log onto www.potomacnationals.com to join the party!

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Carolina League Stories from May 2, 2009


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