CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Nationals Game Notes- 5.13

Published on May 13, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


POTOMAC NATIONALS (22-13) @ MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (23-13)

RHP JHONNY NUNEZ (0-3, 5.40) VS. RHP DEUNTE HEATH (4-1, 2.14)

RHP TERRENCE ENGLES (0-1, 18.00) VS. RHP KYLE COFIELD (1-4, 4.34)

May 13, 2008 -- 5:35 p.m.

G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium

Game #36&37/Home #17&18

Internet Webcast -- www.potomacnationals.com

TONIGHT: The Potomac Nationals and Myrtle Beach Pelicans meet in the first two games of a four-game series in tonight's doubleheader...Last night the P-Nats were rained out for the second time at home...Potomac has a 2 1/2 game lead over Frederick in the Carolina League Northern Division after the Keys were shutout 7-0 in Salem last night.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Potomac Nationals will send right-hander Jhonny Nunez to mound in game one of tonight's doubleheader...The 22-year-old struggled again in his last outing at Myrtle Beach, lasting only four innings while being charged with four runs on seven hits...After giving up just four runs on 14 hits in 16 innings (2.25 ERA) in his previous three starts, Nunez has allowed 12 runs on 17 hits in just 10 innings (10.80) over his last three outings...He also struck out 23 batters in those three contests and has struck eight in his last three...All four of the former Dodger farmhand's losses have come on the road...In game two, the Nationals toss righty Terrence Engles who, like Nunez, is in search of his first win with Potomac...The 22-year-old performed better in his last outing against Kinston on Thursday night, lasting 4 2/3 innings while allowing four runs on five hits; however, he matched Ross Detwiler for most walks by a P-Nats pitcher this season with five and also hit a batter while suffering the loss in a 6-4 Indians victory...After posting solid numbers in six games with Low-A Hagerstown (3-0, 1.89) and allowing just five runs in 19 innings, Engles has given up 11 runs in his first two starts with Potomac spanning just 6 2/3 innings...Walks have been an issue for the Staten Island, N.Y., native as he has issued eight in his time with the P-Nats while walking just five batters with the Suns.

VIEW FROM THE TOP: Today marks the 33rd consecutive day the P-Nats have been in or had a share of the division lead since 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.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Potomac Nationals are in the middle of playing 13 of 17 games on the road...The club just completed a 3-4 road trip dropping two of three games in Myrtle Beach and splitting a four-game series in Kinston...In the three wins, the P-Nats got stellar performances out of their starting pitchers...Starters combined to allow just four runs on 11 hits in 17 innings (2.12 ERA) while striking out 19 and walking five...Two of the three wins on the trip were earned by right-hander Adrian Alaniz who gave up three runs on seven hits in 11 innings against Myrtle Beach and Kinston...The offense also provided a boost in the three victories, scoring 17 runs on 25 hits, an average of 5.6 runs per game and 8.3 hits per contest....In the four losses, the offense combined to produce just 12 runs on 29 hits (3/7.3).

FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME: The Potomac Nationals sport the league's best record at home at 13-3...Only the Winston-Salem Warthogs have as many wins at home as the P-Nats...The offense is hitting 11 points higher at home (.242) as opposed to on the road (.231)...The pitching has also been much better at home where the staff owns a 2.30 ERA opposite a 3.42 ERA on the road.

FRANKIE'S FEELING IT: Outfielder Frank Diaz is starting to regain the form that made him a Carolina League All-Star in 2005...Diaz has a hit in five straight games and is 8-for-22 (.364) over that span...The Venezuelan-native has a double and has driven in three runs in his last five games and has raised his batting average from .232 to .256.

PLASENCIA'S PRODUCTION: Outfielder Francisco Plasencia has been given the offense a jolt over his last three starts...After going 0-for-3 in his first few at-bats, the 23-year-old has stepped it up, going 6-for-12 with a double, stolen base, and three runs scored...He was hitting .282 with two home runs and six RBI in 21 games with Low-A Hagerstown at the time of his promotion to Potomac last week...Last season Plasencia hit .209 with a home run and 11 RBI with the P-Nats and .260 with a career-best 14 home runs and 38 RBI with the Suns.

GET LOW-RANCE: Outfielder Marvin Lowrance is 3 for his last 12 at the plate, but all of those hits have gone for extra bases...Low-Low hit a solo homer in the P-Nats 5-1 win over Kinston on Friday...The 23-year-old then doubled in the only Potomac run in a 3-1 loss on Saturday...The California-native made his only hit on Sunday count, a two-run homer in the top of the third inning, in an 8-2 victory over the K-Tribe.

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