Braves squander four-run lead in loss
Published on July 3, 2008 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA- The Burlington Royals scored five unanswered runs over the last three innings Thursday and took a 7-6 victory, spoiling the evening for the Danville Braves and their 2,752 fans who packed Dan Daniel Park in healthy anticipation of some Appy League baseball, along with a healthy blast of post-game fireworks.
While the Royals (3-13) lacked the firepower to light up the sky, they certainly were sufficient in lighting a late-inning fuse off the Danville bullpen. Tied at six runs apiece going into the ninth inning, Yeldris Molina ripped a lead-off triple and was knocked in by Angel Franco on a tough chopper that went just over the reach of Braves shortstop Shayne Moody to plate the winning run. Danville had a last at-bat in the bottom of the ninth but went down in consecutive order.
Danville drops to 12-5 with the loss, their second consecutive dropped decision to Burlington. For the Braves, it marks the first time all season the team has dropped consecutive games, and is the first series they have lost. The Braves' lead in the East Division slims to three games over the Pulaski Mariners and 4.5 over the Princeton Rays after tonight.
After conceding two early runs in the first inning, Danville found their groove offensively and looked like they might run away with the contest. The Braves scored unanswered runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings, and held a 6-2 lead going into the seventh inning.
But Burlington scored three runs in the seventh inning, topped off by a Julio Aparacio double that plated two. The Royals would add one run in the eighth inning on a solo blast just over the left field wall by Miguel Moctuzuma that tied the game at 6-6.
In the bottom of the eighth, Danville was plagued again by Yeldris Molina, but this time it was with the shortstop's glove. After Gerardo Rodriguez was moved to second base on a sac bunt by Chris Shehan, the Braves had an opportunity to move Rodriguez in from scoring position with just one away. Jon Gilmore flew out on a hard-hit ball to right field. With two outs away, L.V. Ware hit a bloop single off his handle that dropped in-between the pitcher and centerfield that looked to give Danville the go-ahead run. But Molina, playing shortstop, rushed to the ball and threw a dart to home plate to retire Rodriguez at the plate to keep the score at 6-6.
The four-run lead that the Braves gave up is the largest all season.
After Burlington put up two runs in the first inning off Danville starter Angelo Paulino, the Braves cut the deficit in half in the third inning on a Matt Kennelly blast to left field.
Danville would go up 3-2 in the fourth inning on a deep, two-run blast to left field by Gerardo Rodriguez. For Rodriguez, the homer marked his league-leading seventh home run, as well as his league-leading 22nd RBI.
The Braves posted three runs in the sixth inning, but missed a chance for even more. With the bases loaded and one out for the Braves, thirdbaseman Jon Gilmore ripped a line drive to center field that should have plated two runners. But a baserunning blunder by the Braves at third base cost the Braves one run and ended up in a tag-out of Gerardo Rodriguez at third base. Matt Kennelly had a double to left field that plated the two remaining runners on base to extend the Danville lead to 6-2. The double marked Kennelly's third extra-base hit of the series.
Pitcher Matthew Small is tagged with the loss and blown save in tonight's contest. Small pitched 2.1 innings -a portion of the seventh, and the full eighth and ninth innings- giving up two earned runs on four hits.
Angelo Paulino will get the no-decision in his second start of the season. After allowing two early runs in the first inning, Paulino (1-0) settled down, throwing four consecutive scoreless innings. He struck out five batters and allowed only one walk.
Braves pitcher David Francis made his debut tonight. His evening was a tale of two contrasting innings. Francis, a 2008 12th round selection from Walters State Community College, looked very sharp in the sixth frame, retiring three Royals in consecutive order. But he found control trouble in the seventh, walking two batters and surrendering three earned runs.
The Braves will head to Kingsport on Independence Day to take on the Mets, who improved to 9-7 tonight after they defeated the Johnson City Cardinals, 8-7. Lefty Tim Ladd will be making his second start of the year on Friday. Pitchers Craig Hodges and Richard Sullivan will finish off the series for the Braves on the hill, respectively.
Appalachian League Stories from July 3, 2008
- Braves squander four-run lead in loss - Danville Otterbots
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