CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats Washed Away in Rain-Soaked Affair

Published on August 13, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- In a back and forth rubber match between the Keys and the Nationals, the P-Nats took an early lead off Nate Nery and looked like they could outlast the Keys in the finale of their three-game set. But the Keys offense proved too much for the Potomac pitching staff to handle on a rain-soaked evening at Pfitzner Stadium, taking game three in just five-plus rain-shortened innings by the score of 8-4.

Adam Carr (1-4) made his eighth start of the season for the P-Nats, but the righty ran into the buzzsaw that is the Frederick Keys offense. The Keys pounded out 12 hits and eight runs in just five-plus innings as Frederick was retired in order just once in the game.

Carr's mound opposition, Nery (4-5), did not enjoy a successful game on the hill either, but he was the beneficiary of the offensive explosion put on by the Keys before the severe thunderstorm had a chance to saturate the Pfitzner Stadium field. The lefty went five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits but he picked up his fourth win of the season in the process.

The game started out well for the P-Nats as Chris Marrero knocked in the first run of the game with a single to left to plate Michael Martinez to give the P-Nats an early 1-0 lead.

Frederick would knot the game in the top of the second with a run of their own on an RBI groundout from Billy Killian. The P-Nats would score in each of the first three frames, only to have the Keys match or beat their run total in the following half-inning.

In the top of the 2nd, the Keys had both their starting shortstop, Pedro Florimon, and their manager, Richie Hebner ejected from the contest after arguing balls and strikes, and the P-Nats would respond with an offensive argument of their own. Back-to-back base hits from Martinez and Danny Espinosa pushed the P-Nat lead to 3-1, but the Keys would respond once again.

Ryan Adams laced an RBI single to cut the lead to one and another groundout tied the game at three. The P-Nats stayed calm, however, and Dan Nelson bashed a one-out triple to the right-center field gap, coming around to score on a Tim Pahuta single up the middle.

Two more runs from the Keys in the top of the fourth made it a 5-4 game and with ominous skies looming over the right field wall at the Pfitz, the Keys tacked on three more tallies in the top of the sixth inning before the drops began to cascade down to the turf. The umpires brought the players off the field and after a 37 minute rain delay, the game was called due to the weather.

With the game already official in the top of the sixth inning, the score will stand as it did when play was stopped, with the Keys leading 8-4. All statistics from the game will count towards the players' season results.

With the Wilmington loss to Winston-Salem, the P-Nats still remain 2 1/2 games behind the Blue Rocks for first place in the Northern Division. Potomac begins an all-important three-game series with the Rocks from Frawley Stadium on Friday evening with first pitch coming at 7:05 ET. You can catch all the action live on www.potomacnationals.com with Dan McGinn and Anthony Masterson starting with the pregame show at 6:45 ET.

For more information on tickets, daily promotions, and all things P-Nats, call (703) 590-2311 or log onto www.potomacnationals.com to join the party!

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Carolina League Stories from August 13, 2009


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