CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Nationals Game Notes

Published on August 31, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


TODAY: The Potomac Nationals and Wilmington Blue Rocks meet in game three of a four-game series...The P-Nats were blown out last night 14-1 allowing seven runs alone in the sixth inning...Potomac enters today 3.0 games ahead of Wilmington atop the Carolina League Northern Division

TODAY'S STARTER: The Potomac Nationals send right-hander Jeff Mandel to the mound trying get back on track against the Blue Rocks...In his last outing, he worked seven innings allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits but suffered the loss against the Salem Avalanche...It was his fourth straight quality start...Over his last four outings, the Baylor product has allowed 10 runs, only five earned, on 25 hits in 26 2/3 innings (1.69 ERA)...In his outing against Winston-Salem on August 10, Mandel got his first win since July 15, working six innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits...In the four outings prior to his win, the Houston, Texas, native was 0-2 with a pair of no decisions and had given up 19 runs, all earned, on 37 hits in 21 1/3 innings (8.02 ERA)...He saw his ERA inflate from 2.83 to 4.60...Mandel has fared better at home than on the road, going 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in six starts at the Pfitz while going 4-4 with a 4.45 ERA in ten road starts...The 23-year-old had served up seven gopher balls in six starts from July 21 through August 15.

TAKING IT ON THE CHIN: The 13-run defeat suffered by the P-Nats last night was the worst of the season surpassing the 14-3 thumping dished out by the Lynchburg Hillcats on June 3...The 13 batters sent to the plate by Wilmington in the bottom of the sixth were also the most faced by Potomac pitching in an inning this seaon.

PLASENCIA PLUMETING: Since going 3-for-5against the Winston-Salem Warthogs on August 10, Francisco Plasencia is batting just .186 (11-for-59) over his last 17 games...The 24-year-old has just two extra base hits over that span (both doubles) and has struck out 22 times while walking only seven.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING: With Friday night's clinching win, the Potomac Nationals, became the first team in the 31-year history of the franchise to win both halves...The club is also the first full-season Washington Nationals affiliate ever to advance to the postseason.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW: The Potomac Nationals and Wilmington Blue Rocks meet in the final series of the 2008 regular season for both clubs before meeting the in the first round of the playoffs...The P-Nats are currently 12-6 against the Rocks this season, the only Northern Division opponent which they have a winning record against...Potomac has outscored Wilmington 105-67 in the series...The Nationals own a .291 batting average against Blue Rocks pitching while posting a 3.20 ERA and limiting the Rocks to a .247 batting average against...The P-Nats have also been able to slow down the Rocks running as Wilmington is 22-for-36 in stolen base tries against Potomac, the lowest success rate (61.1%) against any team in the league.

THE FEW AND THE PROUD: Only 13 active members remain on the P-Nats roster for the club that clinched the first half title on June 9 agianst Winston-Salem...Just six players for Opening Day remain on the active roster and four of those (Detwiler, Wilkie, Martinez, and Brown) have been on the roster the entire season...Potomac has had a record 64 different players, counting eight rehabs, in uniform this season...The club has used 16 different starting pitchers not counting rehabs.

STILL STANDING TALL: The Potomac Nationals have only spent two days were they were not in or had a share of the division lead since moving to the top spot on April 10...Potomac had a string of 91 straight days in first place snapped with a 4-1 loss to Wilmington on July 9...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.

EYE ON 80: With Monday night's win, the Potomac Nationals passed the 1984 Prince William Pirates for second-most wins in a single season...On August 12 the P-Nats became just the eighth team in the 31-year history of the Alexandria/Prince William/Potomac franchise to win at least 70 games...The last time the franchise netted at least 70 wins was 1998 when it was still known as the Prince William Cannons...The win marked the first time the franchise won 70 games in a season since changing its name to Potomac in 1999...The most wins in a season came in 1982 when the Alexandria Dukes won 80 games.

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