CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Seismic Season Opener, Nats Shake Rocks

Published on August 23, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(WOODBRIDGE, VA) The Potomac Nationals offense put on a show Tuesday night against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, and defeated their Northern Division opponent 11-1.

Much like the 5.9 earthquake shook all of the east coast earlier in the afternoon, Potomac's offense shook Wilmington's starting pitcher, Tyler Sample, in the early innings of the ball game.

It was the Rocks, however, who notched the first run in the top of the first on an RBI single by John Whittleman. Unfortunately for Wilmington, that was the only run they scored the entire game.

The P-Nats responded quickly with two runs of the own in the bottom half of the first. Jeff Kobernus led the offense off with a one-out single to left and later stole second to put him into scoring position with two outs. A costly error by Wilmington's first baseman on Steven Souza's ground ball scored Kobernus from second, which tied the game at one. Sandy Leon knocked Souza in a few pitches later on a single up the middle.

The very next inning, the scoring continued for the Nationals and the errors continued for the Blue Rocks. After a leadoff walk by Jose Lozada and a single by Sean Nicol, Eury Perez laid down a sacrifice bunt that Sample was unable to field properly and was charged with an error. Two batters later, Kobernus smashed a single up the middle and scored two runs.

After a double steal by Perez and Kobernus, the Rocks defense failed their pitcher again. Destin Hood grounded a ball to the third baseman, Whittleman who bobbled the ball, which allowed Perez to score and Hood to reach first safely. Hood then advanced to second on an errant throw by the first baseman and men were left on second and third. Steven Souza knocked in the fourth and final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly. After two innings, Potomac's offense had six runs and the Rocks defense had four errors.

Three more P-Nats runs came across in the fourth inning thanks to two bases loaded walks and an RBI single by Sandy Leon. Another two insurance runs were plated in the eighth on a two-run double by Francisco Soriano which finalized the score at 11-1.

Soriano, Kobernus, Souza and Leon all had two RBIs on the night and Kobernus led the offense with a four-for-six performance with three runs. Kobernus also swiped two bags on the night which increased his league-leading total to 48.

Potomac's starting pitcher, Sammy Solis, had a solid second start after being activated from the DL with four innings of work, four hits, one earned run, and six strikeouts. It was reliever Neil Holland (3-0) who was credited for the win, though, for his three innings of scoreless relief. Rocks starter Sample received the loss (7-12).

The three-game series between the two clubs resumes tomorrow at 7:05 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from August 23, 2011


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