Braves Win East Division Pennant with Win
Published on August 23, 2009 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA - The Braves held on for a 9-6 win over the Johnson City Cardinals to clinch the Appy League East Division crown for the fifth time in six years on Sunday afternoon before 682 fans at Dan Daniel Memorial Park. Danville took a 9-0 lead early and was able to cling to the lead for the win. The Braves, winners of 11 of their last 12, improved to 42-17, while the Cardinals fell to 31-26.
The Braves picked up three runs in the second inning to take the quick lead. Osman Marval led off with a single and stole second, his first theft of the season. He moved to third on a groundout and scored on Matt Weaver's single to right. Bobby Rauh then bunted for a single and Chris Curley reached on an error that allowed Weaver to score from second. Rauh and Curley then executed a double steal to put both runners in scoring position and L.V. Ware lifted a sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-0.
Danville made it 8-0 in the second as five straight batters recorded an RBI. Cory Harrilchak reached on an error and stole second to lead off the inning. Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg walked and Marval's double made it 4-0 with runners at second and third. Derek Wiley followed with a sacrifice fly. Matt Weaver then singled home Marval to make it 6-0 and end the day for Cardinals starter Reynier Gonzalez. Bobby Rauh welcomed reliever John Durham with an RBI triple and Curley capped the inning with a run-scoring groundout.
The Braves added a final run in the fourth. Harrilchak single to center with one out and moved to second on Marval's walk. Derek Wiley drove in Harrilchak with a single to left.
Danville starter Brett Oberholtzer was brilliant on the mound for the Braves, retiring the first 12 men he faced. He surrendered just two singles to start the fifth, but escaped the jam by getting a fielder's choice, pop out, and groundout.
The Braves bullpen and defense struggled, though, starting in the seventh inning when the Cardinals broke up the shutout off Luis Avilan. In the eighth and ninth, two errors led to four unearned runs for Johnson City. Eric Barrett loaded the bases in the ninth inning before Derick Himpsl recorded his first career save after walking in a batter to bring the go-ahead run to the plate.
Oberholtzer (5-2) earned the win, tossing five two-hit innings with no walks and three strikeouts. Gonzalez (2-5) took the loss, allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits in 2.1 innings. Marval extended his hitting streak to eight games with his 2-4 afternoon. Wiley and Weaver had two RBI apiece. The Braves were also perfect on four stolen base attempts.
The Braves will look for their sixth straight win Monday night at 7 p.m., sending left-hander Chris Masters (6-4, 1.69 ERA) to the hill against Johnson City's Angel DeJesus (0-1, 12.27 ERA). It will be $1 Dog Monday at the ballpark, sponsored by Kunzler. The Braves will also celebrate Faith Night with local Christian rock band Brothers Under the Sun performing pregame on the concourse. In addition, any member of the Danville Athletic Club can present their membership card and get a GA ticket for just $3.
Fans can follow all Braves play-by-play action for home games on WMNA 106.3 FM or on the station's website www.espninva.com. For other information on the schedule, tickets, group nights, and/or partnership opportunities please contact the Danville Braves office at (434) 797-3792, info@dbraves.com, or log on to www.dbraves.com. ---DBRAVES---
Appalachian League Stories from August 23, 2009
- Braves Win East Division Pennant with Win - Danville Otterbots
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