Salem Avalanche Win Wild One Over Potomac Nationals - Carolina League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - WOODBRIDGE, Va.— In one of the most exciting contests of the season at Pfitzner Stadium, the Nationals unfortunately came up short against the Avalanche losing 8-7 Saturday. In what was a seesaw battle, Salem trailed
by one in the top of the ninth inning but mustered two runs with clutch
two-out hits against closer Josh Wilkie to steal game one of the series.

Wilkie (0-1), who has been dominant this season, was one out away from
giving Potomac its second straight win. With runners at first and third
and two outs, Roberto Mena spoiled the fireworks with an infield hit that
Michael Martinez could not handle as he charged the ball allowing the
tying run to score. Cesar Quintero supplied the knockout with a clutch
base hit driving in the go-ahead run that Francisco Plasencia missed by a
step. Wilkie entered the night having not allowed a run in 18 1/3 innings
dating back to May 27.

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In a game that featured four lead changes, the Nationals had to claw their
way back just to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Trailing 6-5, Plasencia’s second hit of the evening was timely as it
plated Dee Brown who represented the tying run. Then, with the bases
loaded Bryan Hallberg (1-5) hit Dan Lyons forcing in the lead run for a
7-6 advantage.

Potomac was forced to use five pitchers during the course of the contest.
Starter Ryan Wagner, who has not pitched in a game since May of 2007, was
making a rehab start and did not make it out of the first inning. The
right-hander struggled with his command walking two hitters in his 2/3 of
an inning.

Wagner gave way to Luis Atilano who also had his share of troubles. The
23-year-old surrendered three solo-home runs in 4 1/3 innings but did
record four strikeouts.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Marvin Lowrance homered on
consecutive nights bringing the P-Nats even with Salem. The solo-shot
moved Lowrance into sole possession of the team lead in home runs with 12.

Even though Potomac pulled even, Salem responded accordingly in the top of
the seventh against Joe Norrito. Norrito struck out the first two hitters
in the frame but the Avalanche took complete control of the game with a
big two-out rally. Jimmy VanOstrand provided a blow with a two-run triple
and Tim Torres’ RBI single put an exclamation point on the 6-3 lead.

The Nationals never folded showing their resilience with two runs in the
bottom of the seventh. RBI groundouts from Trevor Lawhorn and Johnny
Estrada brought Potomac within one run setting up the eighth and ninth
inning excitement.