Nationals keep Hillcats at bay

FROM STAFF REPORTS
Published: July 17, 2008

WOODBRIDGE — The Potomac Nationals were not quite ready to relinquish their hold on the Carolina League Northern Division Thursday at Pfitzner Stadium. With a 6-2 victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats, Potomac remained in first place and extended their division lead to 1 1/2 games.

P-Nats starter Luis Atilano won his second consecutive decision in his fourth start for the Nationals. The Puerto Rican-native set the table for the night tossing five innings while allowing one run on six hits. Even without sending the Hillcats down in order in any inning, Atilano (2-0) maneuvered his way through the lineup with five strikeouts.

With the score 3-2, Trevor Lawhorn and Michael Martinez supplied some insurance late in the contest. Lawhorn launched his third homer of the year and Martinez; four batters later smoked a triple to the right-center field gap that plated two more runs. At the point the Nationals were comfortably ahead 6-2.

Game two of the three-game series with the Hillcats is tomorrow night at Pfitzner Stadium. Potomac will send Zack Segovia (1-1, 1.69) to the mound against Brad Lincoln (0-0, 0.00) for Lynchburg. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.