Last Night In Woodbridge
It's a 4-2 deficit to overcome tonight
The dark clouds that foretold the evening’s eventual outcome matched the first inning, as the Potomac Nationals fell behind early 3-0 and were losing 4-2 in the middle of the 5th when the rains came.
Danny Rosenbaum was obviously not sharp in the first inning. The leadoff batter smacked a triple off the glove of J.R. Higley in centerfield (Eury Perez was not in the lineup for the second straight game since being lifted during the top of the 7th on Friday night). A single after an infield popup plated the first run, and a pro-shop-fitted (lifted?) John Whittleman (the uniform back said “Sample”) slammed a two-run shot for an early 3-0 Blue Rocks lead.
Rosenbaum retired the next five batters before an infield single opened the third. A one-out double to right field two batters later set up runners on second and third but Sandy Leon picked off the runner at third and Rosenbaum struck out “Sample” to end the threat.
Potomac managed to scratch out a run in the bottom of the third on hit batsmen, an error, a sacrifice and a tapper to shortstop that Cutter Dykstra misread and attempted to take third. He managed to stay alive just long enough for the run to score, but the baseunning gaffe killed the rally.
In another recurring theme of the 2011 season — not stopping the opposing team in the next half-inning — Wilmington answered the Potomac tally with a leadoff double, a move-up flyout to deep center and a grounder to second that Jeff Kobernus couldn’t field cleanly while drawn in for the play at the plate.
Justin Bloxom led off the fourth with a double down the rightfield line and J.P. Ramirez sent him home with two outs with a seeing-eye single up the middle to pull back within two at 4-2 after four full.
Rosenbaum worked around a Francisco Soriano error that led off the fifth, but the real drama was in the skies beyond the third-base side as streaks of lightning were visible in the distance. Play was halted at 7:47 and the official decision to suspend play until today came approximately 30 minutes later.
It’s a 5 p.m. resumption, followed by a seven-inning game tonight. Evan Bronson or Marcos Frias are the two most likely candidates to take the hill when play resumes. Adam Olbrychowski (2-3, 4.76) is still listed as the starter for the second, regularly scheduled game.
FWIW, Sammy Solis was indeed in “the house,” tracking pitches as is the custom for starters two days before they start. His regular turn is also tomorrow.
The jersey that John Whittleman wore (#34 “Sample”) instead of #30 actually belongs to pitcher Tyler Sample. Chances are there was a problem with his own uniform or luggage, etc…but it made for some great jokes in the press box, including the idea that Whittleman’s license plate also says “SAMPLE” like the online demo version. LOL
Thanks for the clarification. A bit of tipoff for Lecroy about at least one reliever that wasn’t going to be used… unless they were going to do a double-switch and have Whittleman run down to the bullpen to give him his jersey?!
I’ll be really excited to see your first impressions on Sammy Solis. Would love to see him get in the mix for a pennant race in Harrisburg.
What was Eury Perez taken out for? Some defensive or mental gaffe or health reasons?
Interesting that draftee names keep showing up on Auburn and GCL rosters (and “Draft Tracker” here) but no press releases from the Nats. Strange. Maybe Mark Lerner is cutting expenses in the PR department and now there’s just one part-time high schooler there and he/she has a tough time getting info from the FO anyway. Cutting expense there would free up money for, say, uniforms for Mark Lerner to sag batting practice fly balls and hospital bills when they land on his nose.
Hey, part of the reason this site exists is because such coverage is lacking and/or sporadic, but in fairness… nobody does very much in the way of PR on the draft once the picks are made.
What should we think about Harper skipping the P-Nats to go to Harrisburg? Is it simply that he is ready, or is this punishment for the state of the Pfitz?
+1/2St.
Talked to Whittleman last night.. Said he left his jersey in Wilmington. Hopefully they get it to him before Sample starts..