Danville's Comeback Bid Falls Short
July 14, 2011 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
Danville, VA - The D-Braves attempted a late innings comeback on Thursday night but fell one run short. The Kingsport Mets were able to score in the middle three innings six times to win 6-5. The Mets put an end to Danville's three game winning streak and avoided being swept.
Danville drew first blood in the game tonight. In the bottom of the second inning, Kyle Kubitza singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Kingsport starter, Bret Mitchell. Unfortunately, that would be all the D-Braves could muster up for the next five innings.
Kingsport was able to get to Ernesto Silva in the top half of the fourth inning. The Mets loaded the bases with no one out off a walk, hit by pitch, and Greg Pron single. Tillman Pugh cleared the bases on a double down the left field line to give the Mets a 3-1 lead. It was the first of two doubles for Pugh who went 3-for-4 tonight with one run scored and three runs batted in.
The Mets struck again in the next inning, scoring two more off of Silva. Back to back singles by Cam Maron and Yucary De La Cruz put runners at the corners with no one out. De La Cruz stole second before Dustin Lawley hit a 400 foot double to center field. Kurt Fleming made a valiant effort with a sprint to the wall but was unable to make the catch when the ball tipped his glove. The double scored two and JR Graham was called in to replace Silva.
Graham pitched the final two-thirds of the fifth inning and the next four. He gave up five hits and one earned run. The sixth, and game winning run came in the sixth inning on a Jeff Glenn single through the hole at second base. Graham struck out five in relief.
Things got exciting for D-Braves fans, in the seventh, the D-Braves scored two off of a Sam Munson double and Ryan Query single making the score 6-3. In the eighth inning, Kyle Kubitza's 21st birthday came a little early. After Billy Beckwith walked, Kubitza crushed a ball deep into the night over the right field fence to pull the Braves within one. It was his first homerun of the season. Kubitza will turn 21 tomorrow.
The D-Braves threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning but were unable to come up with the run they needed. Chase Larsson walked to leadoff the inning and was immediately replaced by Kenny Fleming as a pinch runner. Query laid down a sac bunt that allowed Fleming to take second easily. Kenny's brother, Kurt, was up next and he walked too but that was the end of the action. With one out Nick Ahmed struck out swinging and then Elmer Reyes flew out to center on a 2-0 pitch to end the game. Silva was saddled with the loss.
The D-Braves hit the road now in search for a new winning streak. They will take on Burlington three times starting tomorrow and then head to Pulaski for another three. They D-Braves will return home a week from tonight, July 21. For more information on the schedule, tickets, group nights, and/or partnership opportunities please contact the Danville Braves office at (434) 797-3792, email at info@dbraves.com, or log on to www.dbraves.com.
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Appalachian League Stories from July 14, 2011
- Pulaski Mariners Celebrate Christmas in July - Pulaski Mariners
- Danville's Comeback Bid Falls Short - Danville Otterbots
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