CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats use long ball to respond

Published on May 6, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Potomac Nationals do not like losing streaks. The P-Nats entered tonight's game with their first three-game losing streak of the season and responded with a convincing 4-3 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Tuesday night as Adrian Alaniz out-dueled Deunte Heath.

Potomac jumped all over Heath (4-1) in the top of the first inning. The right-hander came into tonight tied for the Carolina League lead with four wins, but Marvin Lowrance was not impressed. The left-hander did something that not many Nationals hitters have done lately, clubbing a three-run homer over the right-center field wall giving the Nationals a 3-0 first inning lead. The home run was the third of the season for Lowrance, who has hit all of his long balls on the road.

Jemel Spearman was a catalyst at the top of the lineup for the P-Nats. Spearman went 2-4 with two singles and scored the eventual game-winning run on a Leonard Davis single in the top of the third. The run gave Potomac a 4-2 lead and held as Heath was sent home with his first defeat of the season despite lasting seven innings.

Nationals starter Adrian Alaniz was in and out of trouble all night but still managed to earn the victory. Alaniz (3-0), lasted five innings after allowing three runs and five hits while striking out seven. The right-hander's blemish came when he gave up a two-run homer to former Potomac National Brandon Powell in the second inning, which cut the Nationals lead to 3-2.

After Tyler Flowers hit an RBI single making it a 4-3 game, Alaniz was able to record his seventh and final strikeout of the night to end the fifth inning. The former University of Texas standout got the Carolina League Player of the Week Ernesto Mejia swinging, while stranding runners on second and third.

Relievers Yunior Novoa and Carlos Martinez were brilliant as they combined to throw four scoreless innings. The pair did not allow a hit and retired 11 of the 12 hitters they faced. Martinez pitched the eighth and ninth innings earning his first save of the season.

The Nationals will wrap up their three-game series with the rubber match with the Pelicans tomorrow at BB&T Coastal Field. Jhonny Nunez (0-3, 5.40) will try to win his first decision of the year against Kyle Cofield (1-4, 4.34). First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m.

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Carolina League Stories from May 6, 2008


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