Potomac Nationals clinch second-half title

From staff reports
Published: August 29, 2008

The Potomac Nationals clinched the second half Northern Division title on Friday night with a 3-1 road win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
The victory gives the Nationals (36-31 second half, 78-59 overall) two titles this year. They won the first half title and clinched a postseason berth with a home victory earlier this year.
The Nationals are the first team in franchise history to win titles in both halves.
Wilmington scored the game’s first run when Cody Strait came home as Jeff Bianchi grounded into a force out.
The Nationals came back in the sixth. Michael Martinez led off with a double and went to third on Andrew Lefave’s double.
With Francisco Plasencia at the plate, Blue Rocks pitcher Greg Holland threw a wild pitch and Martinez scored to tie the game at one. Lefave went to third base.
Plasencia struck out, but Lefave scored on Dee Brown’s sacrifice fly.
Potomac had runners on first and second in the eighth inning and Matt Rogelstad reached base on an error by Chris McConnell. Lefave scored on the play to give the Nationals their third run.
Martinez and Lefave both went 2-for-4.
Brown and Jhonatan Solano had one hit each for the Nationals.
Potomac starting pitcher Ross Detwiler earned the victory. He evened his record at 8-8 by allow-ing one run on four hits in six innings. He walked three and recorded six strikeouts.
Nationals relief pitcher Jack Spradlin pitched the seventh. He gave up two hits, but struck out two.
Clint Everts came on after Spradlin exited and tossed the final two innings to record his third save. Everts gave up one hit, but recorded two strikeouts.
Derrick Robinson was 2-for-4 and recorded his 62nd stolen base for Wilmington.
The two teams still have three games remaining in this series.
Tonight, the two battle at 6:05.
Potomac will send Hassam Pena (2-1, 3.99) to the mound and he will face Wilmington’s Mario Santiago (7-8, 3.52).
Sunday’s game is slated to begin at 1:35 p.m., while Monday’s regular season finale is scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m.
After an off day on Tuesday, the playoffs begin at home Wednesday.