P-Nats lose grip on first place

Will Smith admits the wisecracks have come.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks’ left-handed starting pitcher knows being named after a celebrity is fodder for some jokes.

When his name was announced as a pitcher during an outing in Frederick, a picture of the actor came up on the Keys’ scoreboard.

“I get them all the time,” Smith the pitcher said of the lighthearted humor.

Wilmington’s starter also has a competitive side, something the Potomac Nationals witnessed on Tuesday.

Smith tossed eight scoreless innings, allowed one hit, walked none and struck out 12 as the Blue Rocks defeated Potomac 4-2 in game two of a pivotal series.

His performance made Wilmington (31-26 second half) owner of the Northern Division’s top spot. The Blue Rocks own a half game lead over Potomac (30-26) with one game remaining in the series.

The second half champion is awarded a spot in the Carolina League postseason.

“We still have a chance,” Nationals left fielder Robby Jacobsen said. “This is our last series against them, but it’s not our last series of the year.”

A wild pitch from Potomac starting pitcher Trevor Holder accounted for Wilmington’s first run.

Nick Francis added two more on his two-run home run.

Eddie Prasch’s solo home run was Wilmington’s final run.

That was more than enough for Smith, who mixed in his pitches to get ahead of Potomac’s hitters. When he led in counts, Nationals’ batters swung and either grounded out, struck out or flew out.

“My fastball,” Smith said when asked if any particular pitch was most effective. “I was getting in 0-2’s, 1-2’s. I was not letting it go to 2-0 or 3-1. Those are bad counts you want to stay out of.”

Smith built on two previous solid outings.

He took a loss on July 29 against Kinston. After being acquired by the Royals from the Angels in a trade for Alberto Callaspo, Smith allowed one run, a home run, in seven innings and struck out four.

His previous outing was a victory over Salem when Smith threw seven scoreless innings, gave up three hits, issued one walk and struck out five.

He has made at least four starts at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A this year.

Only Nick Moresi’s sixth inning single prevented Smith from tossing eight perfect innings.

Smith threw 75 pitches in the first seven innings, 91 for the game and 63 strikes.

“He pitched a heck of a game,” Moresi said.

Yet Moresi and his teammates put together a ninth inning rally.

Jacobsen walked and scored on Moresi’s double.

Moresi advanced to third on Francisco Soriano’s groundout.

After Sean Nicol struck out, Derek Norris’s double sent Moresi home.

League home run and RBI leader Tyler Moore stepped to the plate, representing the tying run.

The fans, adults and children, standing behind the fence adjacent to Potomac’s dugout urged the home team on. They chanted “Let’s Go Nats”, “Come on” and clapped in hopes the Nationals would overcome their deficit to win.

The encouragement nearly worked. Blue Rocks relief pitcher Kevin Chapman put Moore in a 1-2 count before Moore lofted a fly ball to center field.

The fans thought Moore had hit a franchise record 29th home run, breaking Hensley Meulens’ mark for most round-trippers in a season.

The ball instead died in center fielder Patrick Norris’s glove.

Game Wilmington.