CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats rally falls short in ninth

Published on May 30, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va.- Heading into the ninth inning of tonight's game with the Kinston Indians, the Potomac Nationals did not feel as though they would lose their third straight game. But for the second consecutive night, a ninth inning rally fell just short as the Nationals left the bases loaded and lost to the K-Tribe 8-6 at Pfitzner Stadium.

The ninth started advantageously for Potomac with Seth Bynum capping his 4-5 night by leading off with a single to center field. Marvin Lowrance doubled just past the dive of Indians third baseman Jared Goedert putting the tying run on second base with just one out as it appeared the Nationals were poised to complete the comeback. Sung-Wei Tseng proceeded to walk Edgardo Baez putting the winning run aboard and loading the bases.

The chess match of match-ups started between both dugouts. K-Tribe manager Chris Tremie was ejected earlier in the contest and acting manger Jon Nunnally pulled Tseng in favor of left-hander Dan Cevette with lefty Leonard Davis due up at the plate. Nationals manager Randy Knorr countered with pinch-hitter Chris Marrero who struck out swinging for the second out of the inning. Dee Brown's line drive to right field looked like it might drop, but Cirilo Cumberbatch snagged it as he raced toward the right field line ending the Nationals hope of a comeback.

The night started rough for Potomac and even rougher for starter Ross Detwiler. Detwiler did not make it through the first inning for the second time this season. The left-hander was pulled due to a high pitch count but not after giving up five runs on four hits while walking two in just 2/3 of an inning. Chris De La Cruz, Cumberbatch, Niuman Romero, and Jerad Head each provided RBI at-bats for Kinston. Before the Nationals stepped to the plate, they trailed 5-0.

Potomac again battled back and did not let the deficit affect its offense. The P-Nats responded with three runs in the bottom of the first when Matt Rogelstad knocked a two-RBI double and Leonard Davis provided a run scoring single cutting the score to 5-3.

Indians starter Hector Rondon (2-3) lost his control in the bottom of the fourth inning by walking the first two batters of the frame and hitting another. With the bases loaded and one out, Michael Martinez supplied his second hit of the night, which drove in two runs and tied the game 5-5.

Unfortunately for Potomac, the tie did not last long. Kinston fired right back with one run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth against newly promoted pitcher Atahualpa Severino (0-1). The left-hander made his Potomac debut surrendering three runs on four hits over two frames and departed with the Nationals trailing 8-5.

Game two of the three-game series with Kinston is slated for tomorrow evening at Pfitzner Stadium. Craig Stammen (1-1, 2.03) is coming off of his first victory of the season in his last outing and is scheduled to start for Potomac opposite Carlton Smith (3-2, 3.70) for the Indians, who beat the Nationals on May 10th. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and after the game, the Nationals will have a fireworks show hosted by American Fireworks.

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Carolina League Stories from May 30, 2008


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