Braves notch sixth straight with 3-1 win
Published on August 24, 2009 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA - Chris Masters worked six shutout innings, leading the Braves to a 3-1 win over the Johnson City Cardinals before 966 fans at Dan Daniel Memorial Park Monday night. The Braves, winners of 12 of their last 13, improved to 43-17, while the Cardinals fell to 31-27.
The Braves picked up their first run in the second inning. Christian Bethancourt laced a one-out double down the right-field line and Jordan Kreke followed with a single to right to plate Danville's backstop.
Masters did not need much support, tossing six shutout innings. He did allow at least one base-runner in each of the first five innings, but each time worked out of trouble without surrendering a run.
The Braves added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning, using a couple of bad defensive plays by the Cardinals. Bethancourt led off with a single. Kreke followed with a bunt down the line that should have gone foul, but Cards reliever Cale Johnson accidentally kicked the ball, letting both runners reach.
Johnson then tried to pick off Bethancourt and had him hung up between second and third, but threw the ball to the fence on the third-base side, allowing Bethancourt to score and moving Kreke to second. Bobby Rauh's sacrifice bunt moved Kreke up and he scored on Travis Adair's single to center to make it 3-0.
Johnson City scored and unearned run in the ninth inning off Braves reliever David Hale, who retired the first six men he faced in the game. Jonathan Rodriguez walked and moved to third on a single by Raniel Rosario. Rauh misplayed the ball in right field, letting the runners move into scoring position. Edgar Lara's groundout scored Rodriguez, but Hale retired the next two hitters to end the game.
Masters (7-4) picked up his fourth straight win, allowing just three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Angel DeJesus (0-2) took the loss, giving up one run on five hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out four. Hale picked up his first save of his career with his three innings to close the game.
Kreke finished a perfect 3-3 on the night with a run and an RBI. Bethancourt was 2-4 with two runs and Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg added two hits and a walk. Osman Marval's hitting streak was halted at eight games with his 0-4 night. He started at first base for the first time this season.
The Braves go for the sweep and a perfect homestand Tuesday night at 7 p.m., sending left-hander Tyler Stovall to the mound against Chris Notti (3-1, 4.72 ERA). It is KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets at the ballpark. Bring a KRAFT Singles wrapper to the ballpark and get a buy-one, get-one general admission steal of a deal! It is also Hit the Books! Night, sponsored by Sylvan Learning Center and Wal-Mart. Participating students can turn in a completed reading bookmark into Sylvan Learning Center for two GA tickets to Tuesday's game.
Appalachian League Stories from August 24, 2009
- Braves notch sixth straight with 3-1 win - Danville Otterbots
- 1B Derek Wiley promoted to Class-A Rome - Danville Otterbots
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