CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Vaults into First Place in Lynchburg

Published on August 3, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(LYNCHBURG, VA) For the second straight night, the Potomac Nationals rode a dominant bullpen performance and late offense to a victory in Lynchburg. Coupled with Wilmington's loss in Winston-Salem, the 9-5 win vaulted the Nationals into the Carolina League's second half standings.

Pat Lehman was not his usually sharp self, and he coughed up the early lead. Brodie Greene led off the game with a double and scored when Cody Puckett singled to left field.

The lead would not stand for long. Michael Burgess hit the first pitch of the top of the second over the wall in left-center field for his eleventh home run to tie the game. Tyler Moore then doubled to left and scored on Robbie Jacobsen's two-out single that gave the Nats a 2-1 lead.

Lynchburg struck for four in the third. Again Greene sparked the rally with a leadoff single. Puckett was hit by a pitch; they both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Neftali Soto then broke out of a 3-for-28 slump with a two-run single that took the lead back for the Hillcats. After Denis Phipps doubled, they tacked on two more when Chris Richburg singled to left. That would be the last offense for Lynchburg.

Potomac began chipping away in the fourth. Moore doubled to lead off the frame and moved to third on Bill Rhinehart's fly out to right. Jose Lozada grounded out to first and it was 5-3.

They added another in the fifth. This time it was Curran doubling to open the inning. A pair of ground outs by Steve Lombardozzi and Will Ortiz brought home Curran and cut the lead to one.

They got over the hump in the sixth inning. A pair of one-out walks to Moore and Rhinehart would haunt Janke. Lozada then doubled and Jacobsen grounded to short to get the lead back at 6-5.

The comeback would not have been possible without Jimmy Barthmaier. Barthmaier relieved Lehman and ended the four-run third with a groundout. He pitched three more scoreless frames to keep the P-Nats in the game, and was rewarded with his second win in as many outings.

Cory Van Allen began the seventh, and he too tossed three scoreless for his first save.

Potomac added three more insurance runs in the eighth, and the usual suspects were again involved. Burgess led off with a single. After Moore was retired, Rhinehart walked again before Lozada roped his second double to score Burgess. Jacobsen singled to score Rhinehart and move Lozada to third. Lozada scored on a passed ball and the Nats had a 9-5 lead that would stand.

Potomac will go for its second three-game sweep of 2010 Wednesday night. Marcos Frias takes the hill against Justin Walker at 7:05 P.M. The broadcast can be heard beginning at 6:40.

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Carolina League Stories from August 3, 2010


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