Danville Drops Fourth Straight, Playoffs in Jeopardy
August 20, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA- The Danville Braves dropped their fourth game in a row as they fall to the hands of the Greeneville Astros 6-5. Starter Matt Withrow went four innings giving up five hits and two runs while striking out a pair of Astros.
The scoring got started in the third inning when both teams traded a pair of runs to make the score 2-2 after three innings. In the top of the inning, Astros center fielder Myles Straw lead off the inning with a single up the middle. Straw would then steal second base to put a runner in scoring position, and left fielder Daz Cameron would walk to put runners at first and second with no outs. A wild pitch by Withrow would allow both runners to advance into scoring position with first baseman Connor Goedert at the plate. Goedert would ground out to Braves shortstop Yeudi Grullon, however, Straw would score to break the tie and the Astros took the early 1-0 lead. Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker then singled home Cameron to increase the Astros lead to 2-0.
The Braves would answer back in the bottom half of the third inning, Grullon would lead off for the D-Braves and reached single to left center field. Ronald Acuna then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and quickly the Braves were faced with two outs. However, Justin Ellison extended the inning with a double to right field, putting a runner in scoring position with two outs for Braves third baseman Austin Riley. Riley singled to left center field, advancing Ellison to third base and the D-Braves would have runners on the corners with the always dangerous Carlos Castro coming to bat. Castro singled to left field scoring Ellison to cut into the Astros lead to make it 2-1. Ray Didder reached on an error by the second baseman, and Riley would score to tie the game at 2-2.
Danville would take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning again scoring a run with two outs. The first two batters of the inning Trey Keegan and Jacob Lanning would both strike out. Grullon reached base on an error by the first baseman Goedert's as the ball would bounce off of his glove. Acuna then doubled home Grullon to give the D-Braves the 3-2 lead after four.
The Astros then tied the game in the top of the fifth inning as Braves reliever Luis Gamez issued two consecutive walks to start the inning to Cameron and third baseman Randy Cesar. With runners on first and second, Goedert grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. With two outs, Tucker singled to right center field, scoring Cameron to tie the game at 3-3.
Greeneville then added three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead 6-3. For the second consecutive inning, Gamez would issue back to back walks, this time to Astros second baseman Arturo Michelena and Duarte. The Astros would load the bases as Straw's bunt attempt to advance both runners turned into a fielding error by Braves pitcher Dakota Dill who relieved Gamez earlier in the inning. With the bases loaded, two consecutive groundouts would allow runners to score to make the score 5-3 Astros. Goedert's double to right field would score Straw to make the score 6-3 Astros.
Danville answered with a pair in the bottom of the eighth inning to draw closer to the Astros. Braves first baseman Juan Yepez homered off of the scoreboard in left field to lead off the inning for the D-Braves to make the score 6-4 Astros. The fourth Greeneville error of the night allowed Jacob Lanning to reach base with one out, as Grullon then bunted him to second base and into scoring position. Ronald Acuna's triple off the wall in right center field scored Lanning to narrow the gap to 6-5. Unfortunately for the D-Braves Justin Ellison would strike out to end the eighth inning and the potential tying run was left 90 feet away. The D-Braves went quietly in the ninth inning as Riley would strike out, and then back to back pop outs by Castro and Didder ended the Braves comeback attempt.
The Braves will be back in action tomorrow night as they look to end a four game losing streak. On the mound for the D-Braves will be right hander Ryan Clark. The Astros will counter with a right hander of their own in Makay Nelson. Friday night will also be the second faith night of the year as well as our second t-shirt night. The first 300 fans will receive a t-shirt courtesy of J&M Truck Services and faith night is presented by the Star Tribune. Game time is set for 7 PM.
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Appalachian League Stories from August 20, 2015
- Danville Drops Fourth Straight, Playoffs in Jeopardy - Danville Otterbots
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