This one goes to 11: Meyer and Karns shine with spectacular strikeout tallies

High Single-A Potomac right-hander Nathan Karns turned in another sterling performance Sunday for the P-Nats. Karns, with a career high 11 strikeouts in his longest outing of his career, worked eight innings in a 7-1 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks from Woodbridge, Va. The 24-year-old Karns (2-2) allowed only two hits and just one run in his fourth start with Potomac, dropping his ERA from 4.15 to 3.00 and making a case to win Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive seven-day period. Karns was dominant versus Wilmington, pitching the first of a four-game series at Pfitzner Stadium. Karns, the reigning Carolina League Pitcher of the Week, allowed just one hit after the second inning and retired 20 of the last 23 batters he faced. Coincidentally, low Single-A Hagerstown hurler Alex Meyer also dazzled with with 11 strikeouts. The 22-year-old Meyer, who has been selected to pitch in the Futures Game on July 8 during All-Star week, looks to be gaining serious momentum. In his last 10 starts, Meyer is 5-1 with a 2.86 ERA, striking out 61. Meyer lost the game June 24 but went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs with the 11 strikeouts. He has had 20 strikeouts in his last two starts and 25 punch-outs his last three outings.