CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Nationals Game Notes

Published on April 11, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Game 4

Salem Red Sox (2-1) @ Potomac Nationals (1-2)

RHP Alex Wilson (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Patrick Lehman (0-0, 0.00)

April 11, 2010 - 1:05 PM

Pfitzner Stadium (6,000)

Tuesday, April 13 @ WSD 7:00 PM RHP Robinson Fabian vs. RHP Stephen Sauer

Wednesday, April 14 @WSD 7:00 PM RHP Marcos Frias vs. LHP Justin Edwards

Thursday, April 15 @ WSD 7:00 PM RHP Brad Peacock vs. RHP Nate Jones

Last Night A night after a marathon that lasted nearly four hours, the P-Nats and Red Sox played a quick one Saturday at the Pfitz. In 2 hours and 23 minutes, Salem defeated the Nationals 8-3 to take a two games to one edge in the season's opening series. Fabian Williamson was impressive for Salem, yielding just one earned run in five innings. Caleb Clay pitched the final four frames for Salem, giving up two runs on just three hits. The damage was mostly done in the third inning; after cruising through the first two innings, Brad Peacock gave up three extra base hits, including a two-run homer to Tim Federowicz, and Salem hung a four spot. Bubba Pecina had an impressive season debut for Potomac, hurling two scoreless innings. The Nats scored two runs in the eighth inning on back-to-back extra base hits from Boomer Whiting and Steve Lombardozzi. Mike Burgess drove in Lombardozzi for his second RBI in as many nights.

Slightly Out of Position Just 22 innings into the 2010 season, Gary Cathcart had to make a surprising call to the bullpen. He summoned outfielder Nick Moresi to the mound on Friday April 9 - and Moresi was fantastic. The righthander touched the mid 80s on the radar gun and faced only one more than the minimum in two scoreless innings. In the 14th, Robert Jacobsen pitched a scoreless inning of his own, proving he can play all nine positions on the diamond.

P-Nats in 2009 The Nationals won 79 games for the second consecutive season in 2009, and littered the individual statistical leaderboard by season's end. LHP Tom Millone led the Carolina League with 12 wins and was second with 151.1 innings pitched; Danny Espinosa was first in the league with 90 runs scored and second with 52 XBH; Chris Marrero finished sixth in hitting (.287); returner Michael Burgess was third on the circuit with 19 home runs and fourth in SLG at a .464 clip; Will Atwood finished with 118 strikeouts, good for fifth best. Overall the P-Nats were third in the league with a .258 team BA, and second on the circuit with a team ERA of 3.78.

The New Skipper Gary Cathcart joins the Nationals Organization after spending the previous seven seasons as a coach or manager in the Toronto organization. For the previous two seasons, Cathcart managed the Double-A affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League. Honored as the manager of the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League, Cathcart was the first professional manager for Washington's top prospect Stephen Strasburg. As a player, Cathcart logged five seasons as a minor league outfielder in the Yankees organization, making it as high as Triple-A Columbus.

Roster Tidbits The Nationals welcome back 13 players who saw action in Potomac in 2009. The new roster includes four of the Washington Nationals Organization's top-30 prospects, according to Baseball America. Catcher Derek Norris (No. 2), outfielder Michael Burgess (No. 9) right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock (No. 16) and second baseman Steve Lombardozzi (No. 28) will all start the season with the P-Nats. Four countries are represented on the roster this year (USA, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela).

A National Pastime 2010 marks the sixth season the P-Nats have been affiliated with Washington. Since 2005, when their partnership with Washington began, Potomac is 354-340, including winning records in the last three seasons.

It Pfitz Right In The Nationals were 35-31 at home in 2009. They hit .256 and scored 322 runs with 56 home runs. Away from the comforts of Pfitzner Stadium, ironically, the P-Nats were even better. They posted a 44-27 record, batting .259, scoring 352 runs on 71 homers. They pitched better on the road as well, posting a 3.54 ERA away from home, compared to a 4.04 clip at the Pfitz.

2009 Team In the P-Nats Record Books The 2009 P-Nats made their mark on the franchise record books. They set an all-time high with 127 home runs, bettering the mark set by the 2007 club by three. The Nationals also stole the fourth most stolen bases in club history with 186.

Top of the Table Potomac was the third best offensive team in the Carolina League (.258, 674 R, 127 HR); the P-Nats also had the second best statistical pitching staff on the circuit (3.78 ERA, 14 SHO, 1113 K, 457 BB)

Rain Rain, Go Away Potomac led Minor League Baseball with 11 home rainouts, and only completed 137 official games.

2009 SEASON Control Artist played for Vermont (ss A) and Hagerstown (Low A) in his first professional season Made Suns debut getting the start at Delmarva getting his only loss at Hagerstown... Didn't yield a run in 3 of 6 starts... Final Start of the year struck out 9 in 7 innings giving up 0 R, 2 H and 0 BB against Lake County.. Struck out 28 against only 1 Walk... Also only had one wildpitch... Worked with current P-Nat Derek Norris on most of his starts... VERMONT: Made professional debut at Lowerll (6/21) going scoreless in 2 IP and picking up a hold in a 5-2 win... Made first start July 15th at Jamestown... Final start went six innings without allowing a run against Oneonta... After walking a batter in his first pro inning didn't walk a batter final 26.1 with Vermont

2009 SEASON Control Artist played for Vermont (ss A) and Hagerstown (Low A) in his first professional season Made Suns debut getting the start at Delmarva getting his only loss at Hagerstown... Didn't yield a run in 3 of 6 starts... Final Start of the year struck out 9 in 7 innings giving up 0 R, 2 H and 0 BB against Lake County.. Struck out 28 against only 1 Walk... Also only had one wildpitch... Worked with current P-Nat Derek Norris on most of his starts... VERMONT: Made professional debut at Lowerll (6/21) going scoreless in 2 IP and picking up a hold in a 5-2 win... Made first start July 15th at Jamestown... Final start went six innings without allowing a run against Oneonta... After walking a batter in his first pro inning didn't walk a batter final 26.1 with Vermont

CAREER Drafted by the Nationals in the 13th Round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft... Right-handed pitcher is in his second season in the Washington organization Has only walked two batters in 59.1 IP Has an amazing 42-2 K/BB ratio... 0.76 WHIP... Hasn't had an error yet as a professional... Drafted in the 42nd Round of the 2008 Draft by Minnesota...

PERSONAL Attended George Washington University Junior Year went 7-4 with a 2.40 ERA over 13 starts including 6 complete games and a shutout... 89 strikeouts and 23 walks in 105 IP... Lowered his WHIP to 1.10 from 1.47 and 1.67 sophomore and junior seasons respectively... 8 or 9 IP in his 10 last starts... Only career shutout vs. Farleigh Dickinson (3/8/09) struck out 13 while walking only giving up one base runner (double)... Sophomore year 2nd in the Atlantic 10 with 61 and led the league in strikeouts looking (26)... Six wins in 17 games (11 starts)... Freshman season started 8 games and made 18 overall appearances... 5-7 with a 5.31 ERA HIGH SCHOOL: First team all-state going 11-0 as a senior at Fair Lawn HS (NJ)... 4-time All-Bergan County... As a freshman hit .390 on Varsity...

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