One Away: Nats On Playoffs' Doorstep With Win

(SALEM, VA) Danny Rosenbaum dealt, Tyler Moore hit his 30th home run of 2010, and the Potomac Nationals moved to within one win of the playoffs with a 5-0 victory in Salem Friday night.

Rosenbaum held the Red Sox - who were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss - off the scoreboard for six overpowering innings. He allowed just four hits and struck out four.

The P-Nats gave the lefthander all the offense he would need to earn his third win in the second inning. Sean Rooney led off the frame with a double and scored on Sean Nicol's single to right field.

They wouldn't score again until the seventh; Stolmy Pimentel was fantastic over six innings, allowing just the one run on five hits with eight strikeouts. But after Robbie Jacobsen doubled off reliever William Lattimer to open the seventh and Chris Curran bunted him to third, Dan Lyons brought Jacobsen home with a grounder to short.

The Nats broke out the hammer in the eighth to tack on three more runs. Tyler Moore hit his 30th home run to lead off the frame, and Jacobsen added his sixth that scored Rooney - who had again doubled - to make it 5-0.

Zach Dials pitched two scoreless and A.J. Morris polished off the Nats' eighth shutout of 2010 with a perfect ninth.

Potomac returns home for four games in three days over Labor Day Weekend against the Kinston Indians. The K-Tribe clinched a playoff berth with Salem's loss. One Potomac win just in its final four, or any single loss from Wilmington in their final three contests will send the Nationals to the playoffs.

A Fireworks Extravaganza after Saturday's doubleheader kicks off an action-packed weekend. Call 703-590-2311 to reserve your tickets and catch the P-Nats on their march to the postseason. First pitch in the opener of the twinbill is set for 5 P.M.