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Potomac Nationals

Ivany, P-Nats Walk Off

August 13, 2007 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, VA - It was quiet for most of the night at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium as the 2,394 in attendance and both teams sleepwalked through the polkas over the PA system and the innings on the field. But a pair of back-to-back Potomac homers in the sixth and seventh, a four-run Wilmington eighth and a Devin Ivany three-run, walk-off homer created more than a little excitement in a 7-5 Nationals win.

Ivany's walk-off came after Chris Marrero and Matt Rogelstad singled to put runners on first and second with one out. Ivany then took an Arthur Santos pitch just right of the left field foul pole to give Potomac the win

Potomac and Wilmington battled through five scoreless innings before the Blue Rocks finally broke on top in the sixth. Mario Lisson singled to open the inning and was moved to second on a Brian McCann base hit.

Miguel Vega picked up the RBI with a line drive double to left that scored Lisson before reliever Eddy Baeza was able to close out the inning.

The lead was short held however as Chris Marrero homered to right to lead off the sixth and Matt Rogelstad did the same as the Nationals turned the back-to-back trick to take the lead. The back to back homers marked the second time Potomac hit two consecutive homers against the Blue Rocks, accomplishing the feat the last time the two teams met, August 1.

Rogelstad's homer was his second of the season and gives him 41 RBI, while Marrero's blast gives him seven round trippers since moving up to Potomac and 28 RBI.

Starter Cory VanAllen was solid in his 5.1 innings, but left the game in favor of Baeza in line for the loss. The righthander from Sugarland, Texas, allowed six hits and two walks, striking out one. VanAllen threw 92 pitches, 59 for strikes.

VanAllen has given up two runs and 10 hits in his last two starts, both no-decisions, against Frederick and the Blue Rocks and is now unbeaten in his last three starts.

Ian Desmond was productive at the plate, but had just a double to show for it in the box score going into the seventh. The shortstop hit a long drive to center in the fifth, bidding for his second homer in as many games, but was denied as Jose Duarte made a leaping catch against the wall.

Desmond finally got that homer as he lead off the seventh, rocketing a Rayner Oliveros offering over both levels of signage in left field for his 12 homer of the season. Justin Maxwell stepped to the plate next and took his turn in the home run derby, smashing one into the woods behind the left-field wall to give Potomac a 4-1 lead.

The Potomac offense had trouble with Wilmington starter Dan Cortes, who went five innings and did not yield a run, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out six.

Wilmington's run at a win started late, using the long ball as well, on a Brian McFall two-run shot to narrow the margin to one at 4-3 in the eighth and pulling ahead in the same inning on a Duarte RBI-single to right.

Potomac and Wilmington continue their four-game series Tuesday at The Pfitz with a 7:35 start. LHP Rowdy Hardy [14-3, 2.38] gets the start for the Blue Rocks and will be opposed by RHP Shairon Martis [11-7, 4.60] in a matchup of Nos. 1 and 2 in the Carolina League in wins.

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Carolina League Stories from August 13, 2007


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