D-Braves Fall 7-6 in Extras
July 20, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA- The D-Braves would come up short in yet another extra inning game, falling in 11 innings to the Bristol Pirates 7-6. Starter Patrick Weigel pitched three and two-thirds innings, gave up five hits and surrendered two earned runs, a total of six runs were scored off of Weigel.
Danville again surrendered multiple runs early in the game, with five runs scored in the second inning. The Braves however would narrow the gap in the bottom half of the second inning. Catcher Carlos Martinez would single up the middle for a lead off hit for the D-Braves. Braves first baseman Jeff Campbell would single as well, and would advance to second on a Henry Rosario throwing error also moving Martinez to third base. Braves would score both of their runs on ground outs. Alejandro Flores would get the first run on the board for the D-Braves as his ground out would score Martinez. Kelvin Estevez would follow suit and drive in Campbell on his ground out to second base as well, cutting the Pirates lead to 5-2.
The Pirates and the Braves would both score in the third inning to make the score, 6-3 Bucs. Danville would add a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to draw the Braves within a run of tying the game. Campbell would send a lead-off double to left center field, setting Flores up for the RBI single. Flores would score when Danville center fielder Ray Didder doubled him home to make it a 6-5 Pirates lead after four innings.
Danville Reliever, and United States Naval Graduate Stephen Moore would pitch five and one-third scoreless innings. Moore would only give up five hits and record two strikeouts in his final appearance at American Legion Post 325 for the season and the next few years. Moore as a graduate of the Naval Academy will serve his commitment that he made to serve the country, as he will report to Pensacola, Florida and will train to be a Naval Flight Officer.
The D-Braves would add a run in the ninth inning and had an opportunity to get yet another walk off win. Braves third baseman Dylan Manwaring would single to right field. Manwaring was then replaced by Yeudi Grullon who would pinch run in his place. Grullon would advance to third base on a wild pitch with Didder batting. Didder would walk to put runners on the corners with no outs and the dangerous Leudys Baez would step up to the plate. Baez would double and score Grullon to tie the game at 6-6, unfortunately for the Braves Didder would stop at third base. With runners on second and third, second baseman Luke Dykstra would hit the ball to Pirates first baseman Jordan George who threw home to keeop Didder from scoring the winning run from third base. Baez would be caught in a run down between second and third and be thrown out at third, as Didder would stay at third and Dykstra would advance to second base. Braves shortstop Kurt Hoekstra would strike out to end the inning and a chance at the walk-off win.
In the top of the eleventh inning the Pirates would plate the go ahead and eventual game winning run. Pirates right fielder would walk to lead off the inning and was advanced to second on a Rosario sacrifice bunt. Jordan George would then send a RBI single to right field to take the lead 7-6.
Danville would have an opportunity to tie and potentially win the game in the bottom of the eleventh inning. Grullon would walk to lead off the inning and would advance to second on a wild pitch. Second Baseman Luke Dykstra would have the opportunity to tie the game or win it with one swing of the bat. On a two-two count Dykstra would ground out to third base to end the game and the Braves would drop the series to the Pirates as well.
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