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Potomac loses in ninth

By Robert Daski

Published: July 5, 2008

Josh Wilkie had recently been untouchable, having not allowed a run in his last 18 and a third innings.
But the Salem Avalanche figured him out on Saturday night.
Wilkie entered the game needing three outs to record a one-run Potomac Nationals victory.
He got his three outs, but not before the Avalanche scored two runs to beat the Nationals 8-7 at Pfitzner Stadium.
Jimmy VanOstrand started the inning with a single, then left the game in favor of pinch-runner Greg Buchanan. Buchanan advanced to second base on a Jhon Florentino single.
With one out, Nick Moresi grounded out to shortstop. But the out advanced Buchanan to third and Florentino to second.
All Wilkie needed to do was retire Roberto Mena and Potomac would have its Carolina League-leading 11th second half win.
Mena, though, singled and Buchanan scored the tying run.
Cesar Quintero’s single scored Florentino and the Avalanche led.
Salem relief pitcher Bryan Hallberg earned the victory, improving to 1-5 despite allowing two runs on four hits in two innings.
The Avalanche went up 6-3 in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a two-run triple by Jimmy VanOstrand and run-scoring single by Tim Torres.
But Potomac scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh, two more in the bottom of the eighth.
In the seventh, Dan Lyons and Michael Martinez scored on groundouts.
In the eighth, Dee Brown scored on Francisco Plasencia’s single to tie the score at six. The Na-tionals went ahead 7-6 when Lyons was plunked on his batting helmet with the bases loaded.
Of the five pitchers the Nationals used, Luis Atilano worked the most innings. He lasted four a third innings and gave up home runs to Collin DeLome, VanOstrand and Nick Moresi.
Atilano gave way to Joe Norrito, who surrendered four hits, three unearned runs and recorded two strikeouts.
Nationals starting pitcher Ryan Wagner walked three batters in two thirds of an inning. He left after 20 pitches.
Wagner is working his way back to the Washington Nationals from right shoulder surgery. He is on the 60-day disabled list and has not pitched all season.
Marvin Lowrance hit Potomac’s lone home run. It was his 12th home run, a solo blast that tied the game at three in the sixth.
Plasencia went 2-for-4 and Martinez was 2-for-3.