Jordan Hurls Gem in Series Finale with Carolina
Woodbridge, VA-Nationals RHP Taylor Jordan (2-1) turned in a stellar performance on Thursday night at Pfitzner Stadium to carry the Potomac Nationals (13-14, 7-7) over the Carolina Mudcats (11-16, 3-10) in the Game Four finale as the home club earned a 5-1 victory.
Jordan, the winning pitcher, hurled 8.0 scoreless innings, a new season-high for all of the Potomac Nationals starting staff, while surrendering separating individual singles.
Throwing 94 pitches, with 61 for strikes, Jordan fanned four batters and walked just one.
2B Khayyan Norfork had his best hitting performance as a Potomac National after swatting an RBI single lined into right center field in the 2nd inning and a solo home run in the 4th frame, his first of the 2013 campaign, over the 400 foot marker in dead center. The evening's hitting star scored twice and helped spin a pair of 4-6-3 double plays in the field.
Potomac sent six men to the plate in the 1st inning against the eventual losing pitcher of record, RHP Cody Anderson (3-1), who allowed five earned runs on 11 base hits, while striking out five and hitting one batter, C Adrian Nieto. LF Billy Burns beat out an infield single to SS Francisco Lindor before DH Jason Martinson swatted an RBI single that ricocheted off of Anderson's leg and flew through the hole at shortstop and into left field.
Three consecutive singles in the 2nd inning from RF Caleb Ramsey, 3B Adrian Sanchez, and the aforementioned run scoring one base knock by Norfork led to an RBI sacrifice fly stroke out to center field by Burns and a double that plated Norfork off the stick of CF Michael Taylor laced to the alleyway in left center field. This outpouring of offense gave the Nationals a 4-0 lead.
Then, in the 4th inning, Norfork cranked his solo four-bagger.
After Jordan was lifted from the game following the conclusion of the top of the 8th inning, RHP Greg Holt began to warm up in the Nationals bullpen.
Holt faced adversity in the 9th inning with a 5-0 advantage, as Lindor tapped an infield single to Norfork at second base, 1B Jerrud Sabourin nailed an RBI double into the gap in right center, and RF Jordan Smith served a single into center.
Holt then exited and the P-Nats turned to their closer, RHP Derek Self (SV 2) who threw flames to the slam the door shut. Self finished with a scoreless full inning of relief in the 9th to earn his second save in four save opportunities.
Self inherited runners on the corners and popped up C Charlie Valerio. Oddly enough, as Sanchez made the catch next to his body along the third base line, Smith wondered off first base and Sanchez gunned him out from across the diamond to complete a 5-3 twin killing. A popout that turned into a double play led Self to face LF Luigi Rodriguez. Rodriguez worked a deep count and then swung and missed at strike three as Self sealed the deal on the Nationals 5-1 triumph.
Friday night at The Pfitz will feature Game One of a three-game weekend series between the invading Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Texas Rangers), holding a record of (15-11, 6-7), after the Pelicans took two of three from Potomac on the latest road trip.
Myrtle Beach will send RHP Luke Jackson (3-0, 1.27) to the mound to square off with Potomac's RHP A.J. Cole (0-1, 4.85) for a 7:05pm first pitch.
On Friday night at The Pfitz the first 1,000 fans will receive a Steve Lombardozzi Poster presented by: Burke & Herbert Bank.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will begin streaming with the P-Nats Baseball Pre-Game Show at 6:50pm before the live play-by-play at 7:05pm. Broadcast coverage is accessible by heading to www.potomacnationals.com.
The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. P-Nats 2013 season tickets and mini plans are on sale now. Sponsorship opportunities for the '13 season are now available. Plan your corporate outing now in preparation for the summer months as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnic options. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the ticket office at 703-590-2311 for more!
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