CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Rally Falls Short in Kinston

July 12, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


KINSTON, NC- On paper, it looked like it would be a lopsided series. The P-Nats, the best road team in the Carolina League with a record of 30-17, were facing the Kinston Indians who had struggled to a 16-30 record from Grainger Stadium. That is why they do not play the games on paper, however, and Kinston combined solid starting pitching with timely hitting to take game three from the Nationals 5-3 and the series two games to one.

Tom Milone was coming off a seven-inning, one-run performance against Myrtle Beach, but the lefty could not duplicate his latest start. Milone went five innings in Sunday afternoon's contest, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out five.

He ran into trouble early in the ballgame as Adam Davis reached on an error and scored on a Cord Phelps double to right field. The K-Tribe would tack on another on a solo home run to left field by Ole Sheldon in the third inning, his second of the season.

The P-Nats would strike back in the top of the fourth as Michael Burgess boomed a titanic tater over the batter's eye in dead-center field to cut the lead in half to 2-1. For Burgess, it was his team-leading 14th home run of the season and tenth away from Pfitzner Stadium.

Potomac could not keep the momentum in their corner, however, as the Indians would plate three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Blair would lead off with a single and steal second base. He would score on a Richard Martinez RBI single to steal the run back and make the game 3-1, but the big blow would be supplied by Lucas Montero as the speedy outfielder launched a two-run home run to push the K-Tribe advantage to 5-1.

There would be some fight left in the P-Nats as the team would climb back into the game in the eighth inning by taking advantage of some Kinston wildness on the mound. Back to back walks from Bryce Stowell began the inning, and a double steal would put runners on second and third with nobody out. Jesus Valdez would bounce a ball back to the pitcher, but Stowell would lob the throw back to the plate as Dan Lyons slid under Martinez's tag to make it a 5-2 game.

The Nats would keep the pressure on in the eighth with runners on the corners and just one out. Burgess would bounce a ball up the middle which looked like it could sneak through the infield, but Ronald Rivas made a nice play behind the second base bag, stepped on the base, and threw onto first for an inning-ending double play.

Against David Roberts in the ninth inning, a Stephen King RBI single would cut the lead to 5-3, but with two outs Roberts would get a ground ball off the bat of Dan Nelson to end both the game and the series.

Francisco Plasencia waited a while, but extended his league-leading hitting streak to 19 games with a ninth-inning single. That streak is the second longest streak in the Carolina League this season trailing just Matt McBride of the Indians who had a 23-gamer early in the season.

The P-Nats return home to Woodbridge after the game to prepare for their seven-game homestand starting Monday evening. The Lynchburg Hillcats will come to town for four games starting with Monday's 7:05 ET first pitch. It will be Dollar Monday at Pfitzner Stadium presented by the Washington Post. Fans can come out to the ballpark to enjoy grandstand tickets and hot dogs for the low, low price of just one dollar.

There are still spots available for the Potomac Nationals Baseball Camp from July 27-29, and the deadline to sign your child up is July 24. Give your kids the chance to gain professional instruction from your favorite P-Nats players and coaches.

For more information on tickets, daily promotions, and all things P-Nats, call (703) 590-2311 or log onto www.potomacnationals.com to join the party!

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Carolina League Stories from July 12, 2009


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