CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Prevails in 9-8 Slugfest Rubber Match Finale with Carolina

Published on August 13, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Woodbridge, VA - The Potomac Nationals (71-47, 29-20) prevailed in a 9-8 slugfest victory over the Carolina Mudcats (49-70, 27-22) at Pfitzner Stadium on Tuesday afternoon in the rubber match series finale with the stadium gallery full of summer camp and day care children. In the last head-to-head matchup with the Mudcats in the 2013 Carolina League regular season, the P-Nats earned the series win.

The game took three hours and twelve minutes to complete and featured a massive total of 16 combined walks, two hit batters, 17 runs, 17 base hits, and no errors.

The Nationals struck first with two runs in the 2nd inning off the eventual losing pitcher, Carolina RHP Robert Whitenack (0-2) courtesy of a two-RBI single grounded up the middle by SS Francisco Soriano.

Whitenack allowed seven earned runs on six base hits while walking four in 3.1 innings.

Potomac RHP Brian Rauh did not receive a decision after dealing 4.1 frames and allowing six earned runs on seven hits while walking a trio and fanning one. Rauh allowed one home run ball over his duration on the mound.

One run was summoned home for the Mudcats in the 4th when C Tony Wolters ripped an RBI single into right field.

The P-Nats produced five runs charged to Whitenack in the home half of the 4th to take a 7-1 lead as 2B Cutter Dykstra, amidst a three-RBI day at the plate, drew a bases loaded walk before LF Caleb Ramsey swatted an RBI single into right field. Mudcats RHP Owen Dew entered the contest and CF Michael Taylor lofted a sacrifice fly to deep right center field prior to RF Brandon Miller's two-RBI single shot through the six hole.

The Mudcats responded immediately with their own five-run spot with the runs charged to Rauh to make it a 7-6 lead. RF Jordan Smith belted a two-run home run out to right field, his fifth of the season, Wolters drew a bases loaded RBI walk off Nationals RHP Greg Holt (6-0), the winning pitcher of record, before 3B Paddy Matera, who singled to get aboard, rushed home on a wild pitch, and SS Erik Gonzalez lifted an RBI sacrifice fly.

Potomac returned fire again with a pair of runs off Dew in the last of the 5th catalyzed by back-to-back walks issued to Leonida and Soriano before Dykstra crushed a two-run double to the wall in dead center propelling the P-Nats to a 9-6 lead.

Carolina edged the Nationals' advantage to 9-7 in the 6th stanza with a run scoring double on a pitch from Holt cranked to the gap in right center field off the lumber of 2B Joey Wendle.

And in the 8th inning off Potomac RHP David Fischer, the Mudcats induced three consecutive walks to allow a run to come in from third base and slice the lead down to just one run for the Nationals. The RBI base-on-balls was worked by Matera. Nationals RHP Rob Wort (SV 6) then entered and struck out LF Bryson Myles on three straight pitches.

Wort worked the 9th and earned his sixth save after getting Wolters to line out to Dykstra at second base, before Gonzalez fanned looking, and 1B Jerrud Sabourin lined out to Miller in right field.

The backend of the current six-game homestand will welcome in the Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles) for a three-game series.

Game One on Wednesday night scheduled for a 7:05pm first pitch will pit Potomac LHP Matt Purke (2-3, 5.77) against Frederick RHP Brady Wager (3-6, 4.64).

It will be an All-You-Can-Eat Wednesday at The Pfitz featuring catering from Uncle Julio's Mexican Grill in the Washmydeck.com Picnic Patio.

The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will begin streaming Wednesday evening with the P-Nats Lead-Off Show at 6:50pm in preparation for the live play-by-play broadcast beginning at 7:05pm. Broadcast coverage of Potomac Nationals Baseball is accessible by heading to www.potomacnationals.com.

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Carolina League Stories from August 13, 2013


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