D-Braves Split First Two in Greeneville
July 21, 2014 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA - Danville is set to head into their game three rubber match of the series with the Greeneville Astros Monday night, after splitting the first two games by way of a 5-4 loss in the first game and a 5-0 shutout victory in the second game last night. Danville sits at 17-12 and in first place in the Appalachian League East, 1.5 games ahead of Princeton after the first two games in the one series road trip in Greeneville before returning back to Danville on Tuesday.
On Saturday it was Max Povse who took the start for Danville to open the series, and the 2014 draft pick would get touched up a bit. In 3.1 innings, the tall righty gave up 5 runs on 6 hits and a walk, without striking out any Astros.
Danville fired back after allowing one in the first frame, as Tanner Murphy doubled allowing Matt Tellor to score for Danville's first run. Fernelys Sanchez continues to swing a hot bat as well, as he followed up with a line drive single to bring in Alejandro Piloto giving Danville a 2-1 edge after the top of the fourth. Greeneville once again would retaliate; scoring their final four runs in the bottom half of that same fourth inning. Danville would try a rally late, scoring one in the seventh on a Piloto RBI single, and one more in the ninth on a Jordan Edgerton RBI ground out to second. But in the end it would be Greeneville taking game one 5-4 over Danville.
Sunday's game was marked by Andry Ubiera's best pitching performance of the season. The right hander continues to show that he's the throwing best right now out of the Danville starting rotation, as he went 5.0 innings without allowing a run and only allowing one hit, and walking three. Ubiera lowered his ERA to a Danville best 1.86, out of their starting rotation.
The bullpen also continued its upward trend that it started in the Bristol series, lighting up opponents and shutting them down. On Sunday it was newly signed Dustin Emmons, recently assigned to Danville Ryan Gunther, and Kyle Kinman throwing the final four innings. Those three out of the pen allowed six hits, no runs, no walks, and struck out two Astros.
Jordan Edgerton was not in the lineup for the second game at Greeneville, presumably for rest. Instead, it was Codey McElroy, normally a shortstop, filling in for his spot defensively at third base, and recent call up Ozhaino Albies playing shortstop. Albies went 0-4 in his first appearance with Danville on Saturday night, however Sunday he found his stride going 2-4with a run scored.
McElroy swung it pretty well at the plate for the D-Braves as well, on top of playing a different position for the first time on Sunday. The 6'6" infielder went 2-5 with an RBI on his sixth double of the season Sunday, after sitting out Saturday. McElroy has been in and out of the lineup for the D-Braves, missing some action with a stiff neck.
Matt Tellor has been a force since returning to the lineup after missing all but the first game of the season. Tellor played well in his return against Bristol last week, and has continued it on the road against Greeneville. Tellor has gone 4-10 so far in the first two games with the Astros. Tellor also has scored a run in each of the first two games of the series, knocked one double, and only struck out once.
Danville would exit Sunday with a 5-0 shutout victory, the team's second shutout of the season.
The series will continue Monday night in Greeneville, Tennessee as Danville's Alec Grosser (2-0, 3.62 ERA) will take the mound against Greeneville's Joshua James (0-0, 0.64 ERA, 1 start, 14.0 IP). The game is set for a first pitch at 7:00 p.m. at Pioneer Park in Greeneville, Tennessee.
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Appalachian League Stories from July 21, 2014
- Braves shutout Astros 4-0 - Greeneville Astros
- Danville Steals Third Game in Greeneville - Danville Otterbots
- Grosser Named Pitcher of the Week - Danville Otterbots
- D-Braves Split First Two in Greeneville - Danville Otterbots
- Pulaski Wins in Dramatic Fashion - Pulaski Mariners
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