CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats sweep double-header over Hogs

Published on April 29, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va.- The Potomac Nationals pulled a rabbit out of their hat on Tuesday night. The P-Nats scored a single run in one game and managed exactly zero hits in the other and still managed to sweep Winston-Salem in a double-header at Pfitzner Stadium.

In game one, Cory VanAllen pitched perhaps his best game of the season. VanAllen was nearly perfect through the first seven innings as he held the Warthogs offense to just one hit while striking out four. The left-hander sent down the Winston-Salem lineup in order every inning except the top of the fourth when Lee Cruz doubled. VanAllen lowered his ERA to 0.66, which currently ranks second in the Carolina League.

Despite the strong outing, VanAllen did not earn the victory. As the game went to extra innings, Adam Carr (2-2) escaped the eighth inning by stranding the lead run on second base.

The Nationals' offense, similar to Winston-Salem's could not figure out Hogs starter Michael Dubee. Dubee (2-1) matched VanAllen inning for inning peppering six hits over 7 2/3 innings.

Potomac's offense broke through against the right-hander in the bottom of the eighth. After Steve Doetsch walked and Michael Martinez beat out an infield single, Elijah Dukes recorded his first RBI as a P-Nat and the games lone run when he knocked in the game-winning RBI with a two-out single.

The 1-0 win improved Potomac's record to 4-0 in extra-inning games, and was the clubs eighth straight extra-inning win dating back to last season! The victory also marked the fourth shutout that Nationals' pitchers have thrown this season.

Game two made a piece of history at Pfitzner Stadium. The Nationals were no-hit for six innings and still defeated the Warthogs 3-2.

Matt Zaleski pitched well enough for a win, but his bullpen could not hold a 2-0 lead. Zaleski silenced the Potomac bats over five innings while striking out two, and only allowed two base runners on consecutive walks in the bottom of the fifth.

Matt Long (1-2) and Kanekoa Texeira combined with Zaleski for the no-hitter, but the pair could not throw strikes. Leading 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Warthogs self -destructed as the first three Nationals reached base via an error and two walks. After a passed ball scored one run and an intentional walk was issued to Leonard Davis, Texeira walked Edgardo Baez to bring in the tying run. Dee Brown barely managed to beat out a ground ball that was nearly a double play allowing Jemel Spearman to score the eventual winning run.

Zech Zinicola pitched a perfect seventh inning to earn his second consecutive save and extend his scoreless innings streak to 11 1/3.

Potomac starter Ross Detwiler still battled control problems as he walked four during his five innings of work. Despite allowing base runners in every inning, the left-hander limited the Warthogs to only two runs. The 22-year-old pitched far better than his previous start where he lasted just 2/3 of an inning.

Nationals' manager Randy Knorr was part of a similar game on May 19, 2005, while he was managing in Savannah. Knorr's Sand-Gnats defeated Greenville 4-3 without recording a single hit.

The last no-hitter thrown at Pfitzner Stadium came May 19, 1995 when Prince William no-hit Frederick and won 3-0 in seven innings. The last no-hitter in the Carolina League came April 12, 2006 when Frederick no-hit Salem in seven innings.

The Nationals and Warthogs will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow at Pfitzner Stadium. Jordan Zimmermann (2-1, 2.21) is scheduled to start for Potomac opposite John Ely (0-2, 2.88). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from April 29, 2008


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