CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Wild Carr(d)s Deal Hillcats a Losing Hand

Published on July 15, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- Coming into the second half of the season, the P-Nats were puzzled by their inability to win consistently at Pfitzner Stadium, taking a 14-18 home record into the break. Since that time, however, the Nationals have finally figured out how to stack up victories at the Pfitz, going 6-1 in their first seven games in Woodbridge. The latest chapter of their newfound dominance at home came on Wednesday night as the team clubbed two late home runs to push past the Lynchburg Hillcats 8-4.

In a game of oddities that saw a reliever toss a career-best five innings to start the game, a struggling reliever escape a first-and-third, one-out jam, a catcher coming out of a season-long power outage, and a Major League prospect show off his home run trot on multiple occasions, the there was a full deck of wild cards with more than a few jokers.

Adam Carr, making just his third start of the season on the mound, worked a career-high five innings in what was supposed to be just a three-four inning stint. The righty gave up just one run, a solo home run to Lastings Milledge in the top of the first, on three hits in his five frames while striking out two.

Though working with a deficit thanks to the Milledge home run, the P-Nats would bounce back in the bottom of the third with four runs of their own. Brian Peacock reached on an error from centerfielder Jose De Los Santos and with runners on first and second, Danny Espinosa lofted a high fly ball to left field that Milledge could not corral. It would turn into an RBI double as Peacock would score, tying the game and putting runners on second and third with just one out. Dan Nelson would continue a big day at the plate by lacing a two-run single to right field to push the P-Nat advantage to 3-1. A Michael Burgess infield single added another tally in the run column for the home team giving the team a four-run inning against a tough Hillcat starter in Matt McSwain.

A Jordy Mercer solo shot in the top of the sixth inning would cut into the P-Nat lead, making the game 4-2 and the Cardiac Cats would complete the comeback in the seventh as Milledge struck again, booming an opposite field home run off reliever Cole Kimball (3-5) to knot the game at four apiece.

It would not stay that way for long, however, which is good news for Nationals fans. Nelson walked, punctuating a 3-for-3 day in which the number three hitter reached base all five times he came to the plate, and Burgess followed with a titanic tater over the third-tier of signage in right field reclaiming the lead for the P-Nats, 6-4.

Peacock would give the Nats some much needed insurance in the bottom of the eighth knocking his second home run off the year off reliever Paul Mildren (3-5), a two-run round-tripper that made the score 8-4 and out of reach for the visiting Hillcats.

Dan Leatherman tossed two spotless frames, striking out three to earn his third save of the season.

For the P-Nats, Boomer Whiting stole his 40th base of the season, tying Ian Desmond for the P-Nats' franchise record for career steals. Francisco Plasencia took an 0-for-4 collar in the game, snapping his 20-game hitting streak which is still good for second longest in the Carolina League this season.

The Nats and Cats will play the finale of their four-game set Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 ET. As always, it is Ladies Night at the ballpark where all ladies receive half-price tickets to the game as well as a carnation upon entering the gates courtesy of Flowers in Just Hours. Throughout the game, all women can enter their name in drawings for great prizes including concert tickets at Meriweather Post Pavilion and a $150 spa getaway to Vita Nova Med Spa! It is also Second Chance Thursday sponsored by the Virginia Lottery. Fans can bring in any non-winning Virginia Lottery scratch card for the opportunity to purchase buy-one-get-one-free grandstand tickets.

For more information on tickets, daily promotions, and all things P-Nats, call (703) 590-2311 or log onto www.potomacnationals.com to join the party!

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Carolina League Stories from July 15, 2009


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