ApL Burlington Sock Puppets

Blue Jays Explode in Extra Innings to Sweep Royals

Published on July 29, 2011 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Burlington Sock Puppets News Release


Burlington, NC- The Bluefield Blue Jays put up six runs in the top of the 11th inning to lead them to the series sweep of the Burlington Royals on Friday night. Andy Ferguson takes the loss after entering the game with the score tied at one in the 11th, and left before he could record the third out.

In the top of the third inning, back-to-back doubles scored Dan Arcilla from second base, making it 1-0 Bluefield. In the bottom of the inning, Adrian Bringas led off with a single. He would advance to second on a balk, then third on a wild pitch, and score on a single up the middle by Justin Trapp.

In the fifth, with the score still tied, the Blue Jays put runners on the corners with one out, but could not capitalize. They would leave 10 men on base, and go 6-for-19 with runners in scoring position.

After their run in the third, the Royals managed just two base runners until the bottom of the ninth. Trapp led off with a walk, before being moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jose Rodriguez. Murray Watts and Jorge Bonifacio would each ground out, leaving Trapp stranded 90 feet away.

After Mitchell Taylor struck out the first two Burlington batter of the 10th, Bringas was hit by a pitch, and the next batter, Steven Brooks, would single. Nelson Liriano would go to his bench, and bring in Derek Hamblen to pinch run for Bringas, as the winning run on second base. Lane Adams would hit a groundball towards first that Art Charles was able to snare, and flipped to Taylor covering, just before Adams could get to the bag.

In the top of the 11th, Bluefield would strike for the first time in seven innings. Two doubles, two singles, and an error, helped bring six runs across the plate. The Blue Jays sent 10 batters to the plate to seal the fate of the home team.

Tyler Ybarra pitched four innings, while giving up a run on three hits, with five strikeouts. In relief, Tayor threw six innings, giving up just one hit, and striking out nine batters. Ian Kadish struck out two of the four batters he faced in the Royals' last at bat to finish the game.

Matt Ridings went six innings for the Royals, scattering five hits, and five strikeouts, while giving up a run. Andrea Pizziconi allowed two hits in his four innings of work, while fanning five Blue Jays. Ferguson surrendered six runs, three earned, on five hits, while going two thirds of an inning. Abel Gonzales recorded the last out of the 11th for Burlington.

Four Blue Jays had two hits, with Leo Hernandez having the best average on a 2-for-4 night. The first three batters in the lineup each knocked in a run, while no one for the road team scored more than once, or had more than one RBI.

Trapp was the only Royal to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a double, and having half of his team's hits. Adrian Bringas went 1-for-3, scoring the only Burlington run. Steven Brooks went 1-for-4, while Jared Dyer ended his six-game hitting streak, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

The Royals are swept for the first time since June, and fall 10 games below .500. Burlington will play the Pulaski Mariners in their next six games, starting with three on the road, before returning home next Wednesday to open a six-game home stand.

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Appalachian League Stories from July 29, 2011


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