CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Holds on against Winston-Salem

Published on May 1, 2007 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va - The Potomac Nationals fell behind early, but rallied behind the bat of Steve Mortimer to take the second game of their series with Winston Salem Tuesday night, 9-7.

Mortimer came into the game with three home runs on the season and added two more to his total, a solo shot in the fourth and a two-run blast in the seventh as the Nationals won their second straight. Mortimer was 3-for-5 in the game with the two home runs, a double and four RBI.

Potomac made it interesting, after plating five runs to go ahead, 9-3, in the bottom of the seventh. The Nationals relievers gave up four runs in the last two innings, a pair in both the eighth and ninth innings, to bring the Warthogs to within two runs before closer Alex Morales finally slammed the door for his second save in two nights.

Morales came in with runners on second and third and no outs, facing the Warthog's No. 3, 4 and 5 hitters after Jack Spradlin gave up a pair of runs to open the ninth. Morales induced a fly ball from Micah Schnurstein and struck out Javier Castillo and Daron Roberts to end the game.

Things were an adventure for Potomac from the opening frame. On the mound for Potomac, starter Carlos Martinez got off to an awful start, giving up a leadoff triple to Aaron Cunningham, who later scored on Micah Schnurstein's RBI-groundout. Winston-Salem wasn't done with Martinez, as they plated two more runs on a Daron Roberts homer.

Martinez threw 27 pitches in that first frame but settled down in his next three, throwing nine, six and 10 pitches. The right-hander went five innings and gave up three runs on five hits, walking one and striking out five - his highest strikeout total of the season.

The Nationals got on to the board in the third, when Ian Desmond singled on a line drive to left, advanced to third on a Brandon Powell single and scored on an Ofilio Castro RBI-fielder's choice.

Potomac tied the game in the fourth on Mortimer's first home run and a Brandon Powell RBI-sacrifice bunt, scoring Francisco Plasencia from third. The Nationals erased the three run deficit and took the lead for good in the fifth, on a Mortimer RBI-double scoring Marvin Lowrance.

Potomac put some short-lived distance between itself and Winston-Salem in the seventh, pushing across five runs on four hits, including a Mortimer two-run home run. The three run comeback is the largest deficit that Potomac has overcome this season and gives the Nationals 13 wins, the second-most in the Carolina League this season.

The Nationals and Warthogs continue their four-game series tomorrow at Richard G. Pfitzner Stadium with a 7:35 p.m. start. Right-hander Clint Everts (1-2, 2.81) will take the hill for Potomac and will be opposed by Winston-Salem's Ryan Rodriguez (0-0, 5.40).

Check out the Potomac Nationals Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 1, 2007


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