CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Nationals Game Notes 4-27-08

Published on April 27, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


POTOMAC NATIONALS (14-6) @ FREDERICK KEYS (12-9)

RHP JHONNY NUNEZ (0-2, 3.48) VS. RHP BRANDON ERBE (2-1, 3.04)

April 27, 2008 -- 2:00 p.m.

Harry Grove Stadium

Game #21/Road #12

Internet Webcast -- www.potomacnationals.com

TODAY: The Potomac Nationals and Frederick Keys meet in the finale of a three-game series...Yesterday Leonard Davis' two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning proved to be the difference in a 3-2 Nationals victory to set up today's rubber match in the series...Potomac has a 2 1/2 game lead over Frederick for the lead in the Carolina League Northern Division.

TODAY'S STARTERS: Potomac Nationals right-hander Jhonny Nunez looks for his first win in 2008 today against the Keys...last time out, the 22-year-old pitched brilliantly against Winston-Salem allowing just three hits and matching a career-high with 10 strikeouts...his only mistake was giving up a leadoff home run to Brandon Allen in the bottom of the second inning in a game Potomac dropped 2-0...The former Dodger farmhand is third in the Carolina League in strikeouts with 27 and has walked only two batters in 20 2/3 innings (13.5-to-1 K/BB ratio)...Since allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings (7.71 ERA) on Opening Day at Salem, Nunez has only allowed four runs over his last 16 innings (2.25 ERA) on the mound...Frederick sends right-hander Brandon Erbe to the mound today after picking up his second win of the season with complete game, seven-inning performance against the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Tuesday...Last season the 20-year-old was both good and bad against Potomac going 1-1 with a 5.70 ERA...The ninth-rated prospect allowed 18 runs, 15 earned, on 25 hits in 23 2/3 innings and struck out 20 but also walked 20...The former third-round pick's best outing came in his only win against the Nationals on June 24 at Pfitzner Stadium where he blanked Potomac in six innings allowing only four hits and striking out seven...His worst appearance was his most recent on August 8 at Harry Grove Stadium when the P-Nats touched the Baltimore-native up for six runs, five earned, in just two innings including Mike Daniel's first career grand slam.

VIEW FROM THE TOP: The win by the Potomac Nationals yesterday afternoon ensured the club of its first-place status for the remainder of the weekend...Frederick had reduced Potomac's once three-game lead in the Northern Division to just a game and a half after Friday night's 5-2 win...Saturday marked the 16th consecutive day the P-Nats have been in or had a share of the division lead after moving to the top spot on April 10...Last season the Nationals spent 31 consecutive days in first from April 5 through May 5...The P-Nats ended the first half in last place, 10 games under .500 and only saw first place for one day, June 21, after May 5.

BY A NOSE: The P-Nats are now 5-3 in the one-run contests after yesterday's 3-2 win over Frederick...Of the Potomac Nationals' first 20 games, 14 have been decided by three runs or less including the eight one-run games...Potomac is 8-6 in those 14 games...The club is a perfect 6-0 in games decided by more than three runs, outscoring its' opponent 48-15...The Nationals six losses have come by a combined ten runs.

SPLIT DECISION?: A win today would earn the Potomac Nationals a .500 record on their current six-game, seven-day road trip...The P-Nats are currently 2-3 on the trip...Starting pitching has been key for the Nationals so far on the trip...In the club's two wins, the starters are 2-0 and have allowed just one unearned run in 10 innings...In the three losses, the starters are 0-3 and have given up seven runs, all earned, in 12 1/3 innings including three home runs.

ROGEL-STUD: Potomac second baseman Matt Rogelstad has at least one hit in all five games (9-for-20) of the P-Nats current six-game road swing...The 25-year-old recorded his team-leading fourth three-hit performance a day ago after going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and is the only National with more than one...It was the sixth multi-hit game of the season for the Canadian-native, matching Frank Diaz for the team lead in that category as well...Rogelstad's 24 hits entering play today are also tops on the club and good for a fourth-place tie with Frederick's Chris Amador in the Carolina League...He also ranks third in the Carolina League with a .343 batting average.

PEACOCK PLUCKED: Since having his five-game hit streak snapped April 19 vs. Wilmington, catcher Brian Peacock has gone 0-for-14 over his last four games and has seen his batting average dip from .353 to .194...Strikeouts have been an issue as the 23-year-old has struck out six times over that span after striking out just three times during the streak...He went 6-for-17 during the first five games he played this season with half of his hits going for extra bases (two doubles and a grand slam).

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