CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Pitching Staff Baffles Dash as P-Nats Cruise

Published on July 31, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- It does not seem to matter who toes the rubber for the Potomac Nationals lately, the game usually rests in very capable hands. Be it season-long starters like Will Atwood or Tom Milone, or hurlers making their Carolina League debuts like Brad Peacock and Trevor Holder, the outing usually ends with the P-Nats slapping hands after another victory. Friday night was no different as the rain stayed away long enough for Holder to make an outstanding debut in just his sixth professional start, pushing Potomac to a 4-1 victory from Pfitzner Stadium.

The University of Georgia product Holder, the 81st overall selection in the 2009 draft, had shot up through the Nationals' ranks, going from Short Season Vermont to Low-A Hagerstown to Potomac in just six short weeks. Facing the top hitting team in the Carolina League in the Winston-Salem Dash, Holder (1-0) looked like a seasoned veteran, setting the Dash batters down with surgical precision.

Though the right-hander only went five innings in his debut, he allowed just one run on a lone hit while striking out five and walking two. He then relinquished the rest of the contest to the bullpen who had one of their best outings of the 2009 season.

Before Holder left the game, however, the P-Nats had built an early advantage off Dash starter Anthony Carter (10-5) who surrendered four runs in four innings of work.

Chris Marrero got the party started for the home team with his 15th home run of the season in the second inning. The solo blast gave Marrero a team leading 61 RBI on the season as the slugger has continued to mash the ball in the second half of 2009.

A Dan Nelson sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third pushed the P-Nat lead to 2-0 as Holder kept the Dash bats quiet until the fourth frame. Holder retired the first nine men he faced as a Potomac starter would take a perfect game into the fourth inning on consecutive nights. A leadoff walk to Dale Mollenhauer would break up the perfecto, and two batters later, Jimmy Gallagher blooped a single to center to score Mollenhauer to slice the P-Nat lead in half.

But back-to-back-to-back doubles from Jesus Valdez, Francisco Plasencia, and Devin Ivany in the bottom of the fourth inning would snatch that run back and then some, giving the P-Nats some breathing room with a 4-1 lead.

That would be plenty for the Potomac bullpen as Patrick McCoy tossed a scoreless sixth stanza, setting the stage for Cole Kimball who shone on this particular night.

The flamethrowing right-hander has shaken off some summer struggles to re-emerge as a rock in the Potomac bullpen. Kimball pitched the final three innings, picking up his sixth save of the season, without surrendering a base hit and striking out a season-high seven batters.

Those seven punchouts for Kimball are a season-high for a Potomac reliever, and also tied the Washington organizational record for strikeouts by a relief pitcher, set on July 25, 2009 by Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard in a rain-delayed game against the San Diego Padres. It took Clippard four innings to accomplish his feat while Kimball only needed three.

The Dash came into the game hitting .271 as a team, but only mustered two singles in this affair.

The P-Nats have taken the first two games of this series from the Southern Division leaders and will look for the series victory Saturday night. Saturday's contest with the Dash will begin at 6:35 ET and fans will experience the best fireworks show in the Carolina League after the ballgame! The extravaganza will be sponsored by the MADD Northern Virginia Affiliate who will be at the ballpark to kick off their 2009 Walk Like MADD 5-K fundraising walk. The walk will take place at Pfitzner Stadium on September 26, and fans can sign up all throughout the ballgame to take part in the event or to sponsor another walker. The Walk Like MADD 5-K fundraising walk is supported in part by Yellow Cab of Prince William County.

It is also Busch Gardens Family Fun Card Night at the ballpark where one lucky row of fans will receive Busch Gardens Fun cards which are good for free admission to Busch Gardens Williamsburg until September!

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 July 31, 2009


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