D-Braves Lose Wild One, 7-3
August 23, 2012 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, Va. - The Greeneville Astros scored seven runs on 11 hits to send the Danville Braves to their fifth straight loss 7-3 Thursday night at American Legion Post 325 Field. With the D-Braves loss and the Burlington victory, the Royals reign Eastern Division Champions.
The D-Braves scored in the first inning off Astros starter RHP Daniel Minor the last time they faced him, back on June 28 at Pioneer Park, and did it again tonight.
Astros right fielder Marc Wik bobbled a would-be basket catch, which resulted in a José Peraza leadoff double. With a fast man on first, Peraza, a trailblazer on the base paths, nabbed his 13th stolen base in 13 chances. Catcher Josh Elander then hit a groundball RBI to plate Peraza and open the scoring, 1-0.
Third baseman Rio Ruiz cracked a double to lead off for the Astros in the second. The Astros knotted the game 1-1 on a clutch hit base knock by left fielder Terrell Joyce. The run marked Joyce's sixth RBI in seven games.
Peraza gave the D-Braves the lead again in the third. With his team-leading .324 average, with runners in scoring position, Peraza batted home center fielder Logan Robbins, who reached base on a walk, to put the D-Braves ahead on the scoreboard, 2-1.
But for the second time that the D-Braves took the lead, the Astros tied it, this time in the fourth. 3-hole hitter, first baseman Michael Martinez, singled and advanced to second on a Ruiz fielder's choice. Rafael Briceno let up a strike three wild pitch, which rolled all the way to the backstop. The misplay pushed Martinez to third and allowed Joyce to reach base. The D-Braves defense, marred by errors of late, committed a costly one on a botched double play ball. Ranging to his right, shortstop Ronald Luna got the force out at second, but threw it away at first, which scored Martinez and tied the game, 2-2.
The Astros rode roughshod over the D-Braves in the fifth and sixth innings. Wik singled to lead off the fifth and advanced to third on the second throwing error of game committed by the D-Braves ' defense. With runners at both ends of the diamond, second baseman Brian Blasik singled home Wik and chased Briceno from the game. Reliever Eduardo Castillo came on in relief, but fared no better than Briceno as the Astros played small ball to score two more runs and make it 5-2.
In the 'Stros sixth, catcher Luis Alvarez and Wik cracked back-to-back doubles before an RBI single from Blasik to make it 7-2. The D-Braves rallied for a run in the seventh for the 7-3 final score.
Minor pitched seven innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits to earn the win. Briceno went four innings and allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits to suffer the loss.
Please bring canned perishables to tomorrow night's food drive at the ballpark in support of Gods Storehouse, a non-profit food pantry that distributes food to those in need in Danville and Pittsylvania County.
Two righties, Ernesto Silva and Adrian Houser, will each toe the rubber for the D-Braves and Astros. Game time is 7:00 p.m. and gates will open an hour beforehand.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Ticket Office at (434) 797-3792 or in-person at the ALP 325 Field Box Office (Mon. - Fri., 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.).
Appalachian League Stories from August 23, 2012
- Astros handle Braves, tighten playoff race - Greeneville Astros
- Elizabethton Continues Dominance, Defeats Pulaski 6-4 - Pulaski Mariners
- D-Braves Lose Wild One, 7-3 - Danville Otterbots
- 2012 Appalachian All Star Team - ApL
- Batista, Blasik Selected to 2012 Appalachian League All Star Team - Greeneville Astros
- Alvarez homers twice, Astros win season series over Twins - Greeneville Astros
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