Roster may change for Potomac, but results remain the same

By Joe Conroy

Published: July 17, 2008

The more the roster changes for the Potomac Nationals, the more things stay the same at Pfitzner Stadium.
The Nationals lost a fourth member of the Opening Day starting rotation when Jhonny Nunez was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg before last night’s series opener against Lynchburg, but no matter how many leave, the P-Nats keep winning in the Carolina League.
Only seven players on the Opening Day roster remain with the team.
Luis Atilano was just the most recent example of Potomac’s resilience. Despite a myriad of promotions that has left the High-A club with just one starter from the first day of the season still in the rotation (left-hander Ross Detwiler) Potomac has continued to win, adding a 6-2 Potomac victory Thursday night.
Atilano, a 23-year-old righty who is returning from Tommy John surgery, threw five innings, striking out five while working within a 75-pitch allocation. He allowed six hits to the Hillcats, walking just one and lowered his 2008 ERA with Potomac to 3.05.
“Each guy is out there doing his part and no one is trying to make up for anyone who’s not here,” Nationals pitching coach Randy Tomlin said of his various starters’ success. “They’re continually working every single day between starts and no pitcher is different - it’s the guys in the bullpen, too.”
Atilano, a Puerto Rico-native, had gone winless since July 24, 2006 including stints with Double-A Harrisburg and Low-A Hagerstown before tasting victory with Potomac July 11 at Wilmington.
“He has a good sinker, a good changeup and good spin on his curveball,” catcher Jhonatan Solano said of Atilano. “He’s looking good for July.”
Potomac remains in first place and extended its Northern Division lead to a game and a half over second place Lynchburg in the second half of the season with the win. The P-Nats have only spent two days without at least a share of the division lead since taking over first on April 10.
Much of that has been due to continued strong starting pitching.
“When a pitcher makes a mistake, he fixes it fast,” said Solano, who joined the team from Hagerstown April 29. “They’re making adjustments in between innings and we have good communication (as pitcher and catcher). We have a good staff and we’re feeling better every time.”
Atilano, who joined Potomac at the end of June, was not the only new face making noise for the Nationals last night. Dan Lyons and Boomer Whiting drove in the team’s first two runs of the night in the third inning.
After Trevor Lawhorn hit a lead off double, Lyons drove the third baseman in on a one-out double a batter later. Lyons advanced to third on a passed ball and Whiting’s perfectly placed bunt down the third base line scored Lyons.
Francisco Plasencia added his fifth home run of the year leading off the next frame on a 3-1 pitch. Lawhorn also hit a homer and Michael Martinez added a two-run, two-out triple to cap the Nationals’ scoring in the seventh.
Carlos Martinez returns to Potomac to replace Nunez after Martinez appeared in one game with Triple-A Columbus and two with Harrisburg.
Martinez was 0-2 with a 3.35 ERA, two saves and 39 strikeouts in 26 relief appearances with Potomac prior to his promotion to the Senators July 9. He threw two scoreless innings against Bowie while with Harrisburg.