Braves Double up Cards, Win 8-4
August 25, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA- The Danville Braves completed the series sweep of the Johnson City Cardinals with a 8-4 win on DARE Day at the ball park. Students from Dan River Middle School were treated to a great showing by Braves starting pitcher Matt Withrow. Withrow went four and one-third innings of perfect baseball, retiring 13 batters in a row before giving up an infield single to third baseman Allen Staton in the top of the fifth inning.
The D-Braves started hot in the first inning, recording three runs on five hits to take the early 3-0 lead. Braves right fielder Ray Didder led off with a stand up double off the left field fence. Jose Morel would then bunt to try to move Didder to third, and he ended up beating out an infield single with Didder advancing to third. Two batters later, Jeff Campbell singled between the shortstop and third baseman, with the ball going into left field, scoring Didder to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna then singled a ground ball in the hole between first and second into right field, loading the bases for Juan Yepez. Yepez would ground out to the second baseman, however, the second baseman Joseph Hawkins was only able to get Yepez at first, Morel scored and the Braves lead was now 2-0. After a walk to Yeudi Grullon, second baseman Jacob Lanning then singled to left field scoring Campbell to extend the Braves lead to 3-0.
Danville would add yet another run in the bottom of the second inning, Jose Morel would hit a ball to first baseman Hunter Newman who misplayed the ball and it trickled all the way down the right field line into the corner allowing Morel to advance to second base on the error, then advanced to third on a wild pitch to Austin Riley. Riley then unloaded on a fastball, sending it off the top of the left center field fence for a single and an RBI and the Braves took the 4-0 after two innings.
Danville would add another three spot in the bottom of the fourth inning. Didder would single to right field to lead off the inning for the D-Braves. Morel would then single to left field, advancing Didder to second base. Austin Riley would continue his hot hitting as he doubled off the right center field wall, scoring Didder giving the Braves a 5-0 lead. Acuna then would repay the favor, as he would send a two RBI single off the center field wall, and the Braves led 7-0 going into the top of the fifth inning.
Braves starter Matt Withrow was perfect through four and one-third innings until Allen Staton's infield single with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Withrow would then give up another hit to Newman to put runners on first and second with two outs. Withrow would then hit Chris Rivera, who would have to leave the game after being hit in the elbow by a 93 mile per hour fastball to load the bases. Ryan McCarvel would replace Rivera. Withrow would then bounce back and strike out Ricardo Bautista, Withrow's eighth strikeout of the game. Joesph Hawkins would then reach on an error by short stop Grullon, allowing two runs to score making the score 7-2 Danville, and Withrow's day was done. Reliever Stephen Borkowski would then come in to finish off the inning, getting Anthony Ray to ground into a 3-6 fielder's choice.
The Cardinals would add two more runs in the top of the sixth inning, making the score 7-4. Center fielder Magneuris Sierra would walk to lead off the inning for the Cardinals. The walk to Sierra was followed by a double to left field by the Cardinals designated hitter Chris Chinea, advancing Sierra to third. Cards third baseman Staton would then reach on an infield single just out of the pitcher's reach, scoring Sierra to make the score 7-3 Braves. Newman would add the second run of the inning as he sent a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Chinea who had advanced to third on the infield single by Staton to make the score 7-4 Braves.
The Braves would add one more run in the bottom of the eighth inning to double up the Cards 8-4. Morel tripled to right field to lead off the inning, putting a valuable insurance run just 90 feet away. Austin Riley would deliver yet again with his third RBI of the night, sending a double off the left field wall yet again, and the Braves would take an 8-4 lead into the top of the ninth inning.
Matt Custred who had pitched the previous one and two-third innings, came out for the ninth inning and struck out two of the four batters he faced, striking out Ray to end the game and preserve the sweep of the Cardinals. The Braves will now play one road game at the Burlington Royals before hosting the Bluefield Blue Jays for the final three games at American Legion Post 325 field this season. The Braves will turn to starter Ryan Clark against the Royals to go for a very important win, as the D-Braves at the time of publication are 3.5 games out of a wild card spot in the playoffs.
Appalachian League Stories from August 25, 2015
- Burlington Beats Princeton - Princeton WhistlePigs
- Appalachian League Announces 2015 All-Star Team - Kingsport Axmen
- Braves Double up Cards, Win 8-4 - Danville Otterbots
- Bristol Pirates continue pennant push - Bristol State Liners
- Astros' Goedert Selected to 2015 Appalachian League All-Star Team - Greeneville Astros
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