D-Braves Hold on To First Place Despite 2-5 Road Trip
Published on July 12, 2014 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA - The D-Braves entered an eight game road trip riding high in the Appy League. Danville sat at 11-3 entering the first game on the stretch in Burlington owning the best record in the entire Appalachian League and on a seven game winning streak. However, the road was not as kind to the D-Braves as ALP 325 Field in Danville has been.
The D-Braves lost their first four games on the road, two in Burlington against the Royals and the first two of a three game series with the Princeton Rays. Overall on the trip Danville went 2-5 on their road stand (game three of the Princeton series was rained out, rescheduled for 8/24), and the Braves were outscored by their opponents 34-26.
Danville's red hot bats cooled off some on the road. Entering the trip the D-Braves were head and shoulders above the rest of the Appy League offensively, now with some key promotions within the lineup such as center fielder Sean Godfrey and first baseman Tanner Krietemeier going to Rome the offense has a couple holes to fill. On the trip Godfrey extended his D-Braves season best hitting streak to 11 games, a streak that dates back to June 26th. He also raised his batting average to .412, good enough to lead the league. Godfrey hit an astounding .478 during the road trip, and scored four runs; all without a single RBI.
Krietemeier was called up to Rome after a short, but productive stint in Danville. Krietemeier had a hit in each of his first six professional games, four of which were on the road trip. Krietemeier also had four RBI and two doubles away from Danville.
Jordan Edgerton continued his tear on the road this past week. Edgerton is sixth in the Appy League in batting average (.368), his 25 RBI are the most in the league, and his on base plus slugging percentage of 1.015 is the third best in the league. Edgerton hit .291 (7-24) on the trip, and managed to find a way to drive in 6 runs during the tough offensive stretch for the D-Braves. Edgerton also hit his D-Braves leading third home run in the first game of the trip in Burlington. Edgerton also returns to Danville riding a six game hitting streak.
Andry Ubiera was excellent in his only start during the trip. Ubiera worked four innings against in the first game of the Pulaski series. While it was Luis Miranda who notched the win that night, Ubiera set the tone early. Ubiera struck out six batters, walked three, and gave up two runs on four hits. Matt Kimbrel, who was also called up to Rome during the trip, would save the contest, his first of the season for the D-Braves. The 4-2 win snapped their season long losing streak of four games entering the night.
Danville led the Appy League in every major offensive statistic (except home runs) going into the first game of the road trip in Burlington. Those numbers have come down to earth now, and they still manage to rank in the top three or lead in almost every category.
It was the offense that came through in the final game of the road stretch, when Alejandro Piloto smacked a solo homer in the 11th inning of Friday's contest at Pulaski to give Danville the 5-4 victory over the Mariners. Yeudi Grullon also had his rally cap on, as he singled in the top of the ninth driving in Justin Black, tying the game at 4 and sending it to extras.
The Danville Braves (13-8) will be back in action at American Legion Post 325 Field on Saturday facing off against the Elizabethton Twins (14-8), who they will face for the first time this season. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Appalachian League Stories from July 12, 2014
- Mariners Mash Their Way to 11-10 Victory - Pulaski Mariners
- D-Braves Continue to Struggle Coming Back Home - Danville Otterbots
- Astros beat Cardinals 8-3 to complete series sweep - Greeneville Astros
- D-Braves Hold on To First Place Despite 2-5 Road Trip - Danville Otterbots
- Astros beat Cardinals 8-3 to complete series sweep - Greeneville Astros
- Pulaski Mariners Lose in Heartbreaking Fashion - Pulaski Mariners
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