CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Nationals Game Notes

Published on May 26, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Last Time Out... The Potomac Nationals tagged the Carolina League's ERA leader for five earned runs in five innings as they evened the series with a 9-4 win over Kinston Tuesday night. T.J. McFarland came into the game with a league-best 1.07 ERA and finished his evening with his first loss of the season. McFarland fell to 5-1 as the K-Tribe dropped to 24-22. Potomac improved to 21-25 and is once again tied with Wilmington for second place in the Northern Division, six games behind the Frederick Keys. Adrian Alaniz earned the win for the P-Nats, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Potomac starter Pat Lehman, who struggled with his control early in the game.

Yo, Adrian! ... Adrian Alaniz was the hero out of the bullpen on Tuesday night with 3.2 scoreless innings. Alaniz has been a long relief specialist; seven of his nine outings have been at least two innings, three have extended beyond three frames, and two have stretched four innings (4/30 at LYN and 5/21 at SAL).

Rockin' Robbie ... Robbie Jacobsen hit his first home run of 2010 in the first inning Tuesday night; it was Jake's seventh career long ball. The utility master hit two big flies in 109 games in Hagerstown in 2009.

A Turn-Key Solution... The Nats stayed six games back of the Frederick Keys with the win last night. The margin between the ballclubs has been six since May 11th, after the Keys picked up three straight games on the Nats to double their lead at the top of the standings. The last time the Nats were within two games was the final day of April; Potomac fell the furthest behind the Keys (8.0) last week after three straight losses at Harry Grove Stadium.

Rubber Duckies... The P-Nats have thrived in rubber matches in 2010. Their series-clinching victory in Salem on Sunday pushed their record to 5-2 in rubber matches; the Nats are also 9-4 in series finales.

Be Like Mike... Mike Burgess continues to drive in runs at a torrid clip. His run-scoring single in the seventh inning Tuesday night gave Burgess the Carolina League lead with his 37th RBI. Incredibly, Burgess has at least one RBI in 18 of the last 26 games, and had a stretch of nine straight contests with an RBI from April 29 to May 8. In those 16 run-producing games, Burgess has driven two in nine times and three once, on May 12 against Winston Salem.

The General Storen... Drew Storen got his first win in the Major Leagues on Wednesday night. Storen had made his major league debut Monday night at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The tenth overall pick in 2010 came on with one on and one out in the seventh inning. Storen got Felipe Lopez to fly out, hit Ryan Ludwick with a pitch and struck out Matt Holliday to get out of the jam. The Nats lost to the RedBirds 6-2.

Commander in Chief(s)... Stephen Strasburg allowed his first earned run in four starts for the Syracuse Chiefs. Monday night against Toledo, Strasburg went five innings, allowed just the lone earned run on five hits with five strikeouts. In nine minor league starts, Strasburg has an ERA of 0.99 (45.1 IP, 5 ER). He has struck out 54 against just 10 walks, and has a WHIP of 0.706.

Rolling Bones... Tom "Bones" Milone, the P-Nats leader with 12 wins in 2009, has won three of four dominant starts at AA Harrisburg. Saturday night in Akron, Milone gave up only one earned run in 4.1 innings. Last Sunday against New Britain, the southpaw from Saugus, CA gave up one earned run in seven and a third innings pitched. Over his last three starts, Milone has gone 18 2/3 innings and yielded only three runs and walked none. In 2010, Tom is 4-1 with an ERA 3.14. In 43.0 innings he has struck out 34 and walked six.

Carolina On My Mind.. The P-Nats rank near the middle of the Carolina League in most statistical categories - with a few notable exceptions.† Potomac is second to Kinston in the league in walks (188), and lead the Carolina League in home runs yielded (38) and hit batters (29).† Here is how the Nats shake out against the rest of the circuit in the major categories: Offense: Average 6th (.246), Runs 4th (213), Doubles 4th (91), Triples 3rd (13), HR T2 (32), Strikeouts 6th (334), OBP 6th (.329), SLG 4th (.376), SB 3rd (42).† Pitching: ERA 7th (4.58), Hits 7th (432), Shutouts 2nd (4), Walks 5th (163), Strikeouts 4th (374).

2009 SEASON... Spent entire first professional season with Vermont (ss A)... NY-Penn League All-Star Selection... Picked up first pro victory with 3 scoreless innings in relief at Tri-City 6/28 ... First Save recorded at Lowell 7/24... Did not give up an earned run in 18 of 20 appearances... Went multiple innings in all but three games... Did not yield a run final 10 outings of the season (23.1 IP)... Vermont's August Player of the Month (0.00 ERA in 8 games)... Did not give up a home run... First professional appearance only gave up one hit in 2 IP... Only walked 3 of 180 batters faced ...

CAREER... Drafted by the Nationals in the 29th Round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft... Left-handed pitcher is in his second season in the Washington organization ... Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2008 Draft (36th Round) ...

PERSONAL... Attended Trinity College in Texas ... As a Senior Honorable Mention All-SCAC... Senior Year: 5-5 with a 4.22 ERA in 13 starts... Had 5 complete games including 2 shutouts... 87 K in 85.1 IP... Threw a 5-hit shutout against Dallas 3/22/09 and was named co-SCAC Pitcher of the Week... Also named SCAC Pitcher of the Week 2/24... As a junior went 9-3 with a 2.28 ERA with one shutout in 10 starts... struck out 102 batters in 83 innings... Team made the NCAA Playofffs... Attended Collegiate School in Midlothian, VA..

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Carolina League Stories from May 26, 2010


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