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FREDERICK, Md. - One of the newest members of the Potomac Nationals Hassan
Pena pitched well in his Carolina League debut, but quickly learned there
is little room for mistakes. The right-hander gave up two solo home runs
to the Keys in Friday's series opener proving to be the difference in
Frederick's 2-0 win over the Nationals at Harry Grove Stadium.

Pena was solid in his first start with the P-Nats tossing five innings
while allowing three hits and striking out four. However, the three hits
were big ones. Chris Vinyard poked a home run in the bottom of the second
inning for a 1-0 Frederick lead. Brandon Snyder doubled the score with a
monster big fly that cleared the three-tier signs in left field in the
bottom of the third. Pena (0-1) suffered the loss but out of his 74
pitches, 45 were for strikes.

The lean 2-0 cushion was all that Frederick starter Jake Renshaw would
need. Renshaw (8-9) collected his third victory of the season over the
Nationals and perhaps tonight was his most impressive. The
California-native silenced Potomac for seven innings allowing just three
hits while striking out five. Just once did he let a Potomac base runner
reach scoring position. Brian Finegan reached third base with less than
two outs in the top of the sixth after a leadoff single but was stranded
by Renshaw.

Potomac's bullpen extended its impressive scoreless innings streak to 23
1/3. Edulin Abreu who was promoted to the P-Nats today with Pena was

brilliant in his Potomac debut. Abreu struck out the first five hitters he
faced and pitched two scoreless frames. Martin Beno also pitched a perfect
1-2-3 inning of relief and the two hurlers did not allow a hit.

The loss sent the Nationals to their third consecutive defeat and just
their sixth shutout loss of the season. In five out of the nine innings,
Potomac's offense was sent down in order 1-2-3 including the eighth and
ninth.

Game two of the three-game series with the Keys is tomorrow night at Harry
Grove Stadium. Jeff Mandel (4-2, 3.23) will take the mound for Potomac
opposite righty Brandon Erbe (7-9, 4.32) from Frederick. First pitch is
scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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