CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Nationals Game Notes

Published on August 24, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


TODAY: The Potomac Nationals take to the road for the final time in the 2009 regular season when they play Myrtle Beach and Kinston for seven games before returning home to Pfitzner Stadium for a season-ending seven-game homestand. The trip begins with a four-game "Bash at the Beach" with the Pelicans who currently have the lowest winning percentage overall in the Carolina League but are still just one game out of a playoff spot in the Southern Division. The P-Nats still find themselves on the outside looking in as they trail the Wilmington Blue Rocks by 1.5 games in the Northern Division entering play on Monday. The Blue Rocks' Magic Number for the Second Half Division title is 14.

VS. THE PELICANS: The P-Nats own a 9-6 advantage in their season set with the Pelicans including a 3-2 mark from BB&T Coastal Field. Potomac's bats have ignited when paired with Myrtle pitching with the defending champs swinging at a .301 clip with four different players collecting 10 or more RBI (Burgess, Marrero, Pahuta, Plasencia). New starting first baseman Tim Pahuta has clubbed three of his seven home runs against Birds pitching with 12 RBI and an OPS of 1.348. In his last visit to the beach, Brian Peacock swatted his first long ball of the year and five of his seven hits against Myrtle Beach have gone for extra-bases. On the hill, Tom Milone has been nearly brilliant against the Pelicans going 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA in four starts. Overall the staff owns a season-ERA of 4.19 and two shutouts vs. Rocket Wheeler's club.

TODAY'S OPPOSING STARTERS: RHP Jacob Thompson, 22, was drafted in the 5th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft by the Atlanta Braves out of the University of Virginia. Once thought of as as a potential first-round pick after a dominate 2007 campaign with the Cavaliers (11-0, 1.50, 101 strikeouts), Thompson took a step backwards prior to the draft as he battled illness and a loss of command in 2008. He dropped 25 pounds in his final season with UV and slipped to the 5th round after being a unanimous First-Team All-American, one of three finalists for the Roger Clemens Award and named to the US College National Team in 2007. Thompson joined the Braves in August of last season and posted an ERA of 1.86 (1 ER/9.2 IP) in three appearances between Rookie ball and Low-A. In his limited action, he was simply dominant against left-handed hitters after only allowing one hit in 15 at-bats.

Thompson for the most part has been terrific in his first go-around in the Carolina League. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine of his 13 appearances this season and is limiting batters but has seen his share of troubles this year against the defending Mills Cup champions. He has looked out of character in his first career start against the P-Nats where he was torched for seven runs on 10 hits in 5.0 innings on July 8th. Of those 10 hits, five were for extra-bases including Brian Peacock's first home run of the season. Round two also went to the P-Nats are Thompson again struggled on July 29th when the right-hander was pounded for a season-high eight earned runs and allowed two more homers (Michael Martinez & Tim Pahuta) in an 8-4 defeat from Pfitzner Stadium. Lefties are still receiving no love from the lanky right-hander who is holding left-handed swingers to just a .239 BAA (34-for-142).

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Carolina League Stories from August 24, 2009


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