Potomac powers past Kinston

Print

Potomac powers past Kinston
04/11/2008 11:47 PM ET
By Anthony Oppermann / Potomac Nationals

WOODBRIDGE, Va.- After a pair of walk-off victories, the Potomac Nationals decided it was time to leave no doubt as the offense erupted for 10 runs and 12 hits in a 12-5 victory over the Kinston Indians Friday night at Pfitzner Stadium. It was the fifth-straight win for the P-Nats, and the club's 12th-straight win at home dating back to last season.
The night started on a high note as Washington Nationals closer Chad Cordero started the game, retiring the side in order on only seven pitches.
Potomac's offense surged in the bottom of the second. With one out, Marvin Lowrance walked on four pitches, and Dee Brown was hit by the next offering from Paulo Espino (0-1). Edgardo Baez, Seth Bynum and Brian Peacock hit back-to-back-to-back doubles, all driving in runs, to give the P-Nats an early 4-0 lead.
The K-Tribe made it interesting in the third. With Cordero out, scheduled starter Cory VanAllen (1-0) got into trouble. Alex Castillo reached on a bunt single to third, and Adam Davis and Jared Goedert each followed with bases hits, Goedert's scoring Castillo, to get the Indians on the board and cut the lead to 4-1. After Beau Mills was retired on a nice catch by Bynum in shallow left, Nick Weglarz reached on an error by Chris Marrero. Davis scored on the play to narrow the gap to 4-2. The two runs ended the bullpen's scoreless innings streak at 18.
Marrero atoned for his error in the bottom of the inning; hitting his second home run to left-center and putting the P-Nats back out in front by three at 5-2.
Kinston - a night after outlasting Frederick in 16 innings for its first win of the season - answered back in the top of the fourth. After VanAllen struck out the first two batters of the inning, Cirilo Castillo reached on an error by Jemel Spearman at third. Castillo pulled the Indians to within one with a two-run shot to left, making it a 5-4 game.
That was as close as the K-Tribe (1-3) would get as the P-Nats distanced themselves on a Matt Rogelstad RBI double in the bottom of the fourth and a Baez three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth that capped off a four-run inning, giving Potomac a 10-4 lead.
Spearman hit a two-out, two-run double down the right field line in the seventh to cap the scoring for the Nationals (5-2).
VanAllen gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings; however, only one run was earned. Lefty Yunior Novoa gave up a run in 3 2/3 innings to pick up the save. Espino, making his Carolina League debut, was charged with 10 runs, all earned, on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. The 21-year-old struck out one and walked one.
The Potomac Nationals continue their series with the Kinston Indians Saturday night, as former first-round pick Ross Detwiler (1-0, 0.00) aims for his second win of the season against Steven Wright (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with Saturday Night Fireworks to follow after the game.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.