ApL Burlington Sock Puppets

Burlington Holds off Pulaski, Rewarding Ridings with Second Win

Published on August 4, 2011 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Burlington Sock Puppets News Release


Burlington, NC- Matt Ridings earned his first win of the season as the Burlington Royals stifled a late comeback attempt for the 10-7 victory. The Pulaski Mariners scored all seven of their runs in the eighth inning, but only two were earned. The win evens the season series between the two teams, and the Royals will go for their second straight series win over the Mariners on Friday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium.

Burlington opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Lane Adams led off with a double, and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Justin Trapp. With one out, Michael Antonio lofted a ball to center that was deep enough to score Adams from third. The sacrifice fly made it 1-0 in favor of the home team.

In the third, Kenny Swab led off with an infield single, after a diving stop by Bryan Brito at shortstop. Lane Adams would walk, before Trapp and Antonio would both strike out. With two away, Murray Watts would single to center, scoring Swab. Jorge Bonifacio would follow with an RBI single of his own to give the Royals a 3-0 lead.

The Royals continued their offense in their next at bat, starting with a one out home run from Anthony Howard, his first this season with the B-Royals. Three batters later, with two outs, and Adams on first, Trapp doubled down the left field line, scoring the Oklahoma native, further stretching the Burlington advantage. The next batter Antonio would homer off the foul pole down the left field line, for his second in as many games, and third and four games. It's the fifth of the season for the New York native, and gave the home team a 7-0 lead. The sixth inning saw sacrifice flies from Murray Watts and Bonifacio that added two runs to the spread. Swab's RBI single in the seventh scored Adrian Bringas, putting Burlington up by 10.

In the eighth inning, the tides would turn. The Royals' pitching, which had held the visitors to three hits through seven innings. Pulaski scored seven runs in the eighth, with all but two being unearned. All but three Mariners scored in the inning, David Middendorf made his debut for Burlington as part of the eighth, and allowed four of the seven, all unearned, while three were charged to Andrea Pizziconi. Rudy Brown allowed one hit in the ninth, to quiet Pulaski and earn the save.

Angel Raga pitched three and two third innings in his second start of the season. Seven runs crossed the plate under Raga's watch, while he allowed 10 hits. In relief, Bo Reeder gave up two runs on two hits, while Robert Shore allowed a run on two hits in two innings.

Ridings improves his record to 2-3, after a six inning performance. His seven strikeouts tie a career high, set on July 24th against Elizabethton. Ridings scattered three hits and recorded his first win since July third at Danville.

At the plate for Pulaski, seven players reached base in the seventh, however the Mariners only had three base runners until that point. Guillermo Pimentel and Daniel Paolini each went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Franklin Christian recorded two hits in four at bats.

For the Royals, Lane Adams went 2-for-4, but reached base four times, and scored four runs. The designated hitter, Swab, had three hits, a game high, with an RBI, and a run scored. Trapp scored two runs, with an RBI on his only hit. Antonio homered for his only hit, and brought in three runs. Knocking in two runs on two hit was first baseman Watts, who had a 2-for-3 evening. Bonifacio had two runs batted in, while Adrian Bringas singled twice.

These two teams will take the field Friday night in the final meeting this season. The current series, like the season series, is tied. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00. Tickets are available by calling (336) 222-0223.

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Appalachian League Stories from August 4, 2011


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