On the same night that Ankiel was added to the Cannons’ roster, Chris Narveson, a lefty with dynamic stuff and what appears to be a bright future, threw five shutout innings in his home debut as Potomac defeated the Lynchburg Hillcats, 2-1, on Bo Hart’s two-out RBI single in the eighth.

Ankiel, who set a Cannons’ franchise record with 181 strikeouts in 1998 but has become more famous for his wildness in the major leagues, is in extended spring training working out at the Cardinals complex. ESPN reported on its website that Ankiel is expected to spend several weeks there and could join one of the Cardinals Class A teams by the end of June.

“Personally, I think it would be great,” Narveson said. “He’s a guy who has been there and he’s had success. A lot of people do compare us but we’re completely different people. He’s one of a kind. I’ve heard stories about how dominating he was.”

Looking every bit as dominating as Ankiel did during his summer in Woodbridge four years ago, Narveson allowed two hits and struck out three in his second appearance since joining the Cannons on May 22.

Called up from Class A Peoria following B.R. Cook’s promotion to Double A New Haven, Narveson has been virtually unhittable in two Carolina League starts.

The 19-year-old allowed three hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings against Frederick last week and he continued to show why the Cardinals selected him in the second round last June by blanking the Hillcats.

“I’ve had great defense both times out there. I’ve just been trying to throw strikes and they’ve been getting outs for me,” said Narveson, who turned down a scholarship offer from Wake Forest to sign with the Cardinals after going 10-0 with an 0.71 ERA as a senior at T.C. Roberson High School in Arden, N.C.

“He carries himself very well for a 19-year-old,” Hart said. “He’s pitched well for us and doesn’t really have anything to show for it. Hopefully next time we’ll get him some runs.”

Relying primarily on the blistering fastball that earned him a 3-3 record and 1.98 ERA in eight starts at Peoria, Narveson worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second and was bailed out of a potential jam when Hart made a terrific diving stop to rob Josh Bonifay of a base hit in the sixth.

Bonifay returned the favor by diving to take a run-scoring double away from Hart in the bottom of the inning, but Hart got another chance after Gabe Johnson walked to lead off the eighth and delivered a game-winning grounder into right field. His only hit of the night enabled Johnson to score easily from second base.

“I thought I had it the hit before, but Bonifay and I are even now. I robbed him once and he robbed me once,” Hart said.

After collecting just two hits through the first six innings, the Cannons finally broke through against Lynchburg starter Jeff Bennett in the seventh. Jamie Pogue singled to start the inning, moved up on Shawn Schumacher’s sacrifice bunt and scored from second when Chris Duncan singled and Hillcats catcher Ronny Paulino dropped B.J. Barns’ throw home from right field.

It took just three batters for Lynchburg to tie it against reliever Scott Prather in the eighth. Prather hadn’t allowed a run in 15 consecutive innings dating back to April 21, but Barns hit his first pitch into right field for a leadoff double and Chris Combs brought him home with a one-out single.

Prather (2-0) wound up with the victory and Scotty Layfield faced four batters in the ninth to earn his 16th save.