The P Nats wasted a good pitching performance by Righty Greg Bunn Wednesday night falling to the Keys 5 to 4. Keys Mario Delgado who earned some notoriety for being suspended for violating MLBs drug policy this season won the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning off P Nats reliever John Ogiltree, breaking what had been a 4-4 tie.
It was a beautiful night for a ballgame at Frederick with National fans far outnumbering those from Baltymore.
Greg Bunn a right-hander out of California got the start for the Nats.
Selected in the 5th Round in the 2004 draft he pitched well in Vermont going 3-0 with and ERA of 3.00. He topped out at 90 mph and had an effective changeup.
Carlos Yan opposed Bunn. Yan looks to be all arms and legs. He has a great breaking ball, which looks like a slider. He didn't seem to have much of a fastball but he was able to hit 91 mph on the radar gun. His off speed stuff kept the P Nats batters in check.
The Nationals scored first. In the third inning Ian Desmond bunted back at the pitcher. Jan picked up the ball but threw wildly to first allowing Desmond to advance to second. Frank Diaz batting third behind Desmond drove a slider to center field for an RBI double.
Desmond had trouble in the first striking out on a steady diet of sliders from Yan. He is learning to hit but a joy to watch in the field.
Diaz has surprising power for a player his size and speed. Later in the game showed the ability to spray the ball all over the field.
The Nationals added a second run in the fifth inning when Desmond singled up the middle, stole second and eventually scored on a passed ball by catcher Mike Russell.
Greg Bunn gave up a home run in the fifth to Jarod Rine of the Keys for their first run.
One inning later the Keys tied the game. Nolan Reimold, playing center for the Keys and just up from Delmarva, walked, stole second and scored from second base on Delgado's single to center field.
Salomon Manriquez had problems behind the plate. It started with a foul pop, which landed just out of reach. Then came a weak throw to second on a Reimold steal and ended with trouble blocking the plate when Anthony Ferrari was brought in to relieve Bunn. Ferrari, a lefty, has good stuff but struggles with his control. Admittedly Ferrari has a violent falling of the mound motion and lighting and field conditions at Harry Grove are not the best but Manriquez looked lost.
In the seventh Salomon Manriquez did account for his troubles catching with a mammoth two RBI homer just to the left of center field.
The Keys chipped away at Potomac's two run lead and would tie it up scoring runs in the seventh and eighth innings off Ferrari and Brett Campbell.
Keep an eye on Campbell. Selected late in the 2004 draft the slender right-hander had great success in Savannah early this year earning 19 saves.
John Ogiltree came in replacing Campbell and as noted giving up the homerun to Delagrdo. Ogiltree spent time in the Toronto system (and is from Ontario) before being picked up by the Nationals. Earlier in the year he pitched for Harrisburg.
It should be a good game at Frederick tonight with LHP Mike Hinckley from the P Nats on the mound.
Next time in Frederick stop by and say hi to William the home plate usher. He is a big Nats fan and has an article in the upcoming issue of Nats News.
