CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Stammen's Arm, Nats Bats Sink Cats

Published on May 26, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va.- The Nationals honored Memorial Day with a bang Monday at Pfitzner Stadium. With the deadly combination of solid pitching and good hitting, Potomac crushed Lynchburg with three two-run homers on its way to a convincing 12-4 win.

Everything that could possibly go right for the P-Nats did including Craig Stammen pitching his best game of the season. After making ten appearances and four starts for Potomac, the Ohio native finally earned his first victory of the season and his first as a starting pitcher since July 20th of 2007.

Stammen (1-1) was brilliant over a career-long eight innings allowing only two runs on six hits while striking out a career-high high ten batters. The right-hander's only blemish came in the top of the third inning when Lynchburg jumped out to a brief 2-0 lead on back-to-back RBI hits from Angel Gonzalez and Jim Negrych.

That was all the offense the Hillcats could muster against Stammen who retired 14 consecutive Lynchburg batters from the third inning to the end of the seventh inning. While Stammen was mowing down the hitters, his offense was producing a plethora of runs.

Lynchburg's lead was short-lived as the Nationals pounded five runs across the plate in their half of the third. Michael Martinez started the rally with his second single of the day, and Matt Rogelstad drove him in with a double cutting the deficit to 2-1. Chris Marrero then gave the Nationals the lead for good blasting his seventh home run of the season for a 3-2 lead.

The uprising would continue later in the inning against Lynchburg starter Brian Holliday. With two outs, Leonard Davis singled, and Edgardo Baez slammed a deep home run over the center field wall, his sixth long ball of the season, putting Potomac up 5-2.

The Nationals added to their lead by peppering runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Martinez again was a catalyst at the top of the lineup in the sixth getting his fourth hit of the afternoon. Matt Rogelstad followed by once again driving in the leadoff hitter, but this time with a home run, his seventh of the year giving the Nationals an 8-2 lead. Later in the frame, Baez knocked in his third and fourth RBI of the game with a double, which helped highlight a 4-5 afternoon. At that point, the P-Nats led 10-2 and cruised the rest of the way.

The Nationals improve to 3-2 on their current 11-game home stand. Dating back to last season, Potomac has won 13 consecutive games against Lynchburg including ten straight at Pfitzner Stadium. The Nationals 17 hits on Monday marked a season-high.

The four-game series with the Hillcats resumes tomorrow evening at Pfitzner Stadium for game two. Adrian Alaniz (6-0, 2.85), who has earned a win in his last four starts will take the hill for the P-Nats against lefty Tony Watson (3-5, 4.07) for Lynchburg. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Potomac Nationals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from May 26, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central