CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Promising Start Fizzles in Kinston

Published on June 27, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(KINSTON, NC) The Potomac Nationals got out of the gates in a hurry on a rare Sunday evening series opener in Kinston, but the Indians rallied back and held on for a 6-4 victory at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Derek Norris staked the Nats to a two-run lead in the first inning with his fourth home run of the year off Austin Adams, who made his Carolina League debut.

But Potomac starter Jesse Estrada gave the lead back in the home half of the first; the Indians struck for three runs on four hits including a pair of RBI doubles by Bo Greenwell and Doug Pickens.

The Nats tied the game in the third, and Norris was once again the catalyst. Josh Johnson led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a dropped third strike to Steve Lombardozzi and came home on Norris' sacrifice fly to deep left.

Kinston hit back-to-back home runs off Estrada to regain the lead in the fifth inning and chase the righthander. They stretched their advantage to three in the sixth inning when Karexon Sanchez (who hit the second homer in the fifth) singled to left to score Greenwell. Greenwell, the son of two-time Major League All Star Mike Greenwell, had the best night of his young career. He was 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Potomac had wonderful chances to trim the lead in both the seventh and eighth innings. They loaded the bases in the seventh with no outs for Mike Burgess, but the Nats only mustered a single run on Tyler Moore's groundout. In the eighth, they had men at first and second with none away but failed to score. On the evening, the Nats stranded ten baserunners.

Dominant closer Cory Burns struck out the side in the ninth for his 12th save in as many tries.

The Nats look to even the series Monday night with Marcos Frias on the hill against T.J. McFarland, the league's ERA leader. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 P.M., and the broadcast can be heard beginning at 6:45.

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Carolina League Stories from June 27, 2010


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