Nationals and Mudcats Canceled Due to Severe Thunderstorms
Zebulon, NC- The Potomac Nationals' (35-29, 17-17) rubber match series finale with the Carolina Mudcats (28-35, 14-20) at Five County Stadium was canceled on Wednesday night due to severe thunderstorms that brought heavy rainfall.
The official call to cancel the contest came at 8:48pm.
This game will not be made up during the 2014 season due to the fact the teams do not face each other again in the first half of the current campaign.
The original start time of 7:00pm was pushed back to 7:32pm due to a pre-game, torrential T-storm that included accompanying rain showers.
In a scoreless tie while the Mudcats batted in the bottom of the 3rd inning following a double up the left field line cranked by Carolina CF Todd Hankins, the game was put into its second rain delay.
The odd two-bagger from Hankins appeared to be foul in the seats up the left field chalk before Washington Nationals LF Jeff Kobernus realized a wind gust had brought it back into fair territory. Kobernus, who is down with the P-Nats on a rehab stint while recovering from a fractured right hand, could barely see the baseball through the bullets of rain prompting the halt of play.
Nationals RHP Blake Schwartz went 2.2 scoreless innings while Carolina LHP Ryan Merritt gunned through 3.0 innings without surrendering a run in the fragmented affair.
None of the statistics from this partial matchup will count towards the 2014 stat lines for either club.
The P-Nats will drive through the night to prepare for five games in four days against the Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox) at Pfitzner Stadium to finish the Carolina League's first half. The first place Nationals covet their second consecutive Carolina League First Half Northern Division Championship and began the evening 2.5 games ahead of the second-place, Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta Braves). This upcoming series with Winston-Salem is the final set before the 2014 Carolina League All-Star Break.
Thursday night action will pit Washington Nationals Gio Gonzalez (0-0, 19.64) against Winston-Salem Dash RHP Frank Montas (3-0, 1.23).
Gonzalez is down for his second-ever rehab appearance with the Potomac Nationals on the mend from left shoulder inflammation.
Thursday evening at The Pfitz is a Thursday Cheers event featuring $1 drink specials, while the Potomac Nationals will also host a Community Night. Harley Davidson of Quantico is sponsoring Hog Night with the P-Nats that will include a hog roast in the WashMyDeck Picnic Area and a pre-game motorcycle ride-around the warning track.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network, accessible by heading online to www.potomacnationals.com, will broadcast live coverage of the Nationals' series opener with the Winston-Salem Dash on Thursday night beginning with the P-Nats Leadoff Show at 6:50pm before the play-by-play at 7:05pm.
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. The Potomac Nationals have claimed four Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, and 2010) and eight division championships. Most recently, the P-Nats earned a 2013 Carolina League Northern Division pennant. P-Nats 2014 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2014 season and beyond are available. Plan your corporate outing now for the 2014 season to see the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz 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 Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!
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