P-Nats getting results from starting pitching

Terrence Engles spent eight and two-thirds innings setting down Frederick Keys hitters and giving the Potomac Nationals a chance for a come-from-behind victory.

On Thursday, after Potomac manager Trent Jewett walked to the mound and removed Engles for reliever Chris Rivera, Engles walked into the Nationals dugout to the cheers of the 2,124 Pfitzner Stadium fans.

These days, P-Nats fans should be appreciative of their team's starting pitching. Starters have recently done a superb job of pitching deep into games, providing opportunities for the P-Nats to come away with victories.

"You feel good when you know they're going to give you a chance," Jewett said.

Left-hander Will Atwood opened the second half by throwing seven innings of four-hit ball with five strikeouts in Potomac's 6-0 win over Wilmington.

Carolina League All-Star Brad Meyers tossed seven shutout innings and gave up just five hits as the Nationals topped Winston-Salem 6-2 on June 29.

Another lefty, Tom Milone, fanned nine in seven innings on July 1. He gave up two runs on five hits.

"They're starters for a reason," Potomac pitching coach Paul Menhart said. "They've got good stuff."

Menhart credits his starters for their improved command as the season has progressed. He also has noticed each of the five being aggressive with their stuff in an attempt to get hitters to hit balls weakly.

"The ultimate job is to stop hitters from the hitting the ball hard," Menhart said. "[With their stuff], they're saying hit it, but hit it softly. They're confident that they've got to throw the ball over the plate at the knees. They've executed that plan."

One case in point is Milone: He allowed only one earned run in two straight outings on June 13 and 19 and did not walk a batter in his most recent start.

In May, he began working well enough for Jewett and Menhart to leave him in longer than the usual five innings a pitcher throws at the beginning of the season.

Milone struck out seven in eight innings and issued no walks against Myrtle Beach on May 15. That outing contributed to him being named Carolina League pitcher of the week.

"When you work deeper into games, the more comfortable it gets," Milone said. "It means you're being effective. Once you get into those later innings, it helps the bullpen out as well."

It is helpful that Potomac's catchers—Sean Rooney, Devin Ivany and Brian Peacock—have excelled at calling games and at other requirements of their position. Rooney polished his receiving skills in instructional league last September. Ivany and Peacock have four and three years of Carolina League experience, respectively.

"It's all about the catchers," Menhart said. "All three catchers follow through with the plan. They make pitchers very confident. They've been executing tremendously."

When will Willems return?<p>

Menhart said right-handed pitcher Colton Willems may soon come off the disabled list.

Menhart said Willems has developed "a mechanical issue" since turning pro and he is at the Washington Nationals' spring training complex in Viera, Fla. to have the problem fixed.

There is no approximate date as to when Willems, a first-round draft choice of Washington in 2006, will be activated.

Willems is 1-4 with a 7.40 ERA in six starts for Potomac this year.

"It's about repetitions now to get back to where he used to be," Menhart said.

Time for a win

Frederick was to start right-handed pitcher Sean Gleason against Potomac on Friday.

Gleason, a 20th round draft choice of Baltimore in 2007, was 0-2 with a 4.56 ERA. He had made five appearances and held opponents to a .245 batting average. He has 17 strikeouts and five walks in 25 and two-thirds innings.

Staff writer Robert Daski can be reached at 703-878-8049.