Spearman’s clutch hit lifts Potomac to victory
The spotlight was on Washington Nationals relief pitcher Chad Cordero, who was with the Potomac Nation-als on a re-hab assignment Wednesday.Cordero, however, was not the only star of the evening.
Jemel Spearman’s bases loaded single in the ninth inning capped the Nationals’ 4-3 come-from-behind win.
Spearman came to the plate after singles by Edgardo Baez and Brian Peacock and a walk to Michael Marti-nez.
The situation favored Spearman. He noticed Myrtle Beach relief pitcher Brett Butts laboring. Butts asked for time on the mound and briefly chatted with catcher Tyler Flowers to plot strategy on how to pitch to Spearman, who knew what to expect.
“I just wanted to get a fastball to hit,” Spearman said. “He was having trouble locating his pitches. I got my pitch and I hit it.”
Spearman also picked a great time to record his first hit as a Potomac National.
But his previous at-bat was also one to remember. He drew a walk after a 14-pitch battle with Pelicans re-liever Bryan Dumesnil.
Spearman then stole second base, putting two runners on. Two batters later, Potomac’s Chris Marrero tied the game with a three-run home run.
“It helped tremendously,” Spearman said when asked if that injected him with confidence heading into his ninth inning at-bat.
The Nationals (3-2) were given a chance to win in the ninth thanks to Cordero pitching a near-flawless top of the ninth.
Cordero, on a rehabilitation assignment due to tendonitis in his right shoulder, allowed a single, but faced only four batters.
“I felt good,” Cordero said. “This is my first outing of the year and I was able to get some adrenaline going. My shoulder felt fine. My slider felt fine and my fastball felt fine.”
So when does Cordero expect to be activated from the disabled list?
“Hopefully I’ll be activated by Friday,” he said.
Potomac has won 10 of its last 12 home games against Myrtle Beach.
Potomac finished with six hits, one of which came off Pelicans starting pitcher Tommy Hanson.
Hanson pitched six scoreless innings, walked two and struck out seven.
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