CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Sarianides Now: Kinston Reliever Gets First Win

Published on August 17, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(KINSTON, NC) In the last ballgame they will ever play at Grainger Stadium, the Potomac Nationals put forth an effort like so many in the 2011 season at the venerable ballpark. The Nationals fell behind early, struggled to get anything going offensively, were miserable with runners in scoring position, and were overpowered by the Indians' outstanding bullpen in a 2-1 loss. Nick Sarianides earned his first Kinston win with three outstanding innings in relief of Francisco Jimenez, and Preston Guilmet registered his 32nd save to take the series from the Nationals. Potomac was one-for-11 with runners in scoring positon - capping a series in which they got just five hits in 34 clutch opportunities.

Evan Bronson was shaky early, and it ended up costing him. He allowed three of the four hits against him in the first inning and a pair of runs that would hold up against an anemic Nationals offense. After RBI singles by Jeremie Tice and Tyler Cannon staked the Indians to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Bronson (4-4) allowed just one more hit, a single to Casey Frawley in the fourth. He struck out four over six strong innings and walked three.

Potomac had chances early against Jimenez, but failed to cash in. Finally in the fifth, Francisco Soriano laced a two-out single to get the Nats on the board and within one. After Jeff Kobernus followed with another single, Jimenez was lifted for Sarianides - just one out shy of qualifying for a win after he struck out seven. Sarianides retired Destin Hood for the last out of the fifth; Hood would make a crucial mistake later in the ballgame.

With one out in the eighth - after Sarianides had retired eight of nine batters - Hood singled and stole second base. But when Brian Peacock hit a grounder in front of Hood to the hole at short, the Potomac right fielder broke for third base. Casey Frawley, who appeared to have no play at first, threw to third to easily retire Hood and mute the Nats' rally. Guilmet then came on to retire Steven Souza and the Nationals in order in the ninth for the save.

Neil Holland was solid for an inning and two thirds, and Joe Testa got the final out of the eighth.

The Nationals lost seven of ten ballgames at Grainger Stadium in 2011.

Potomac opens a four-game set with the Winston-Salem Dash in Woodbridge on Thursday night. Sammy Solis makes his return to the rotation at 7:05 P.M.

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