Nationals Edge the Keys 5-4 on Strength of Demny's First Win
Woodbridge, VA-The Potomac Nationals (73-47, 31-20) captured a series triumph against the Frederick Keys (54-66, 20-31) by edging their Northern Division foe by the final score of 5-4 at Pfitzner Stadium on Thursday night in series Game Two.
The P-Nats are now (23-16) in their one-run contests in 2013.
Potomac RHP Paul Demny (1-1), the winning pitcher, turned in his best start as a 2013 member of the Potomac Nationals pitching stable with two earned runs in 5.0 innings in which he allowed seven hits and two walks white fanning five.
Frederick tallied the first run of the game in the 4th inning for the second time in the series using an RBI double shot to the gap in right center field by C Zane Chavez.
Potomac answered in the last of the 4th frame against the losing pitcher, RHP Zach Davies (7-6) as DH Adrian Nieto crushed a solo home run out to right field, his eleventh bomb of the season.
Davies gave up three earned runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings while walking three and gunning down five via the strikeout.
The Keys garnered a 2-1 lead in the 5th when RF Dariel Alvarez, a Cuban-born player making his Carolina League debut, ripped an RBI lazer beam single with the bases loaded into left field as part of a two-hit night.
The P-Nats leaped back on top with two runs in the bottom of the 5th inning to yield a 3-2 advantage as the result of an RBI groundout swept to 1B Aaron Baker by Nieto and a bases loaded RBI walk worked by 1B Kevin Keyes.
Potomac RHP Brian Dupra dealt a pair of scoreless frames out of the Nationals bullpen across the 6th and 7th.
The Nationals jumped out to a 4-2 lead with one run in the 7th stanza courtesy of a sacrifice fly lofted off LHP Ashur Tolliver to left field by RF Brandon Miller.
Both clubs scored once in the 8th inning when the Keys summoned home DH Michael Ohlman, who singled, on an RBI bunt single deadened by 2B Travis Adair off RHP Travis Henke, who struck out both Baker and 3B Jason Esposito swinging to preserve Potomac's one-run lead.
The Nationals plated C Cole Leonida, who reached with a one-base knock, on an RBI single ripped into right center field by 2B Cutter Dykstra, who went 3-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI plus a base-on-balls in the ballgame.
Potomac RHP Robert Benincasa (13 SV) served up a solo home run to Ruettiger bashed over the right field fence leading off the 9th but sat down SS Jerome Pena on a flyout, Alvarez on a groundout, and got Ohlman swinging to end the game and seal his 13th save.
The P-Nats send LHP Sammy Solis (2-0, 3.12) to deal against Frederick RHP Zach Clark (0-5, 14.05) as the home club goes for a series sweep on Friday with a 7:05pm first pitch scheduled.
On Friday evening, the Potomac Nationals will give away Danny Espinosa Backpacks presented by: TD Bank to the first 1,000 fans and kids will race the bases during the post-game.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will begin streaming Friday night with the P-Nats Lead-Off Show at 6:50pm in preparation for the live play-by-play broadcast beginning at 7:05pm. Broadcast coverage of Potomac Nationals Baseball 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 2014 season tickets and mini plans are on sale now. Sponsorship opportunities for the '13 season and beyond are now available. Plan your corporate outing now 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 ticket office at 703-590-2311 for more!
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