ApL Burlington Sock Puppets

Atencio Walks It off for Royals in the 11th for a 13-12 Win

Published on July 20, 2019 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Burlington Sock Puppets News Release


Burlington, N.C. - Royals catcher Jesus Atencio played hero at Burlington Athletic Stadium, smacking a two-run double to win the game 13-12 in the 11th inning of a see-saw affair.

Both teams scored in the first inning. A Spencer Horwitz RBI double and an Angel Camacho two-run blast to left combined to give Bluefield three runs, while Jake Means plated Maikel Garcia on a groundout to third for just one.

The 3-1 Blue Jays lead held until the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Burle Dixon cut the deficit in half on a groundout to third. In the next at bat, Raymond Lopez seared his first career homer down the left field line, a two-run shot that gave the Royals a 4-3 lead.

However, Bluefield answered with four runs in the top of the fifth to take an 7-4 edge. In the sixth, the Blue Jays added another on a Horwitz RBI single to make it 8-4. Before Friday night, Burlington had never erased a deficit of more than three runs all season.

Come the bottom of the sixth, though, the Royals did just that. David Hollie scored on a wild pitch to slash the Blue Jays lead to three runs. Then, consecutive RBI base hits from Lopez, Jay Charleston and Garcia knotted the game at 8.

Bluefield added two more runs in the top of the seventh when Andres Guerra ripped RBI single and Miguel Hiraldo reached on an error that allowed Ryan Sloniger to score. Following that, Burlington responded with three in the bottom half. Vinnie Pasquantino scored on a wild pitch, Charleston hit an RBI groundout and Garcia looped another RBI single to take an 11-10 lead.

Later, down to their final two outs in the ninth, the Blue Jays refused to go down. Horwitz flew out with the bases loaded to let Steward Berroa score and tie it up at 11.

After a scoreless bottom of the ninth and spotless 10th innings for both teams, Horwitz picked up his fourth RBI of the game on a single that scored Anthony Morales and put Bluefield ahead 12-11.

Then, with two runners on and one out in the bottom of of the 11th, Atencio crushed a double to right-center that scored Jake Means and Kevon Jackson to give the Royals a 13-12 walk-off victory.

The game lasted four hours and 15 minutes.

Royals reliever AJ Franklin earned his first professional win after pitching the ninth, 10th, and 11th innings. Blue Jays righty Aldo Ovando took the loss after surrendering the walk-off hit to Atencio.

Burlington hits the road on Saturday to start a three-game series with the Pulaski Yankees. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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Appalachian League Stories from July 20, 2019


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