ApL Burlington Sock Puppets

Eighth Inning Costs Royals in Series Finale

Published on July 23, 2011 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Burlington Sock Puppets News Release


Danville, VA- The Burlington Royals surrendered a five-run seventh inning on the way to their 20th loss of the season. The Braves bested the Royals, 8-5, to win the series and climb back to .500. Tyler Graham is dealt his first loss of the year, while John Cornely earned his first win.

Danville took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Elmer Reyes reached on an error from Adrian Bringas, who had a rough night all around. Two batters later, with one out, Kyle Kubitza would double to left field, scoring Reyes. The next batter, Brandon Drury, would single to center, bringing in Kubitza from second, give the Braves a 2-0 lead. In their next at bat, left fielder Chase Larson crushed a ball over the right field fence for his second home run of the year, to make it a three run difference.

In the top of the third inning, with one out, Lane Adams would single to left. The enxt batter, Justin Trapp, laid down a bunt along the third base line. As the third baseman Brandon Drury tried to watch it roll foul, it went off his foot, allowing Trapp to reach safely at first. The next batter, Michael Antonio, would strike out, and it would bring Murray Watts to the plate. Watts drove a ball deep to right-center field off the wall, scoring both runners as he stood up going into second base with a double. Next to the plate was Jorge Bonifacio, who hit a base hit to center. Nelson Liriano waved Watts around third with the throw coming in from Kurt Flemming in center on the money to Chad Comer. Watts, who has three inches and forty pounds on the Danville cater, collided with Comer, who was able to hold on, and end the inning on the play at the plate.

In the fifth inning, Adams led off with a single, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then third on a sacrifice fly. With Watts at the plate, the pitch got passed Comer to the backstop, allowing Adams to score from third, tying the game at three.

Tyler Graham entered the game in the seventh inning, and got off to a rocky start, surrendering a leadoff home run to Larson, his second of the game. The Braves would go on to put up four more runs on Graham, before he was relieved by Andrea Pizziconi, who struck out the only batter he faced in the seventh, and retired all three in the eighth.

Burlington was unable to generate any offense in their final six outs, and falling 8-3.

The Royals' starter, Robinson Yambati, continued to struggle this season, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits, and recorded three strikeouts in his two and two third innings. Andy Ferguson went three and a third innings, striking out four, and only allowing one hit. Graham gave up five runs on five hits, while Pizziconi struck out two batters in an inning and a third.

David Filak gave up three runs on seven hits, with five strikeouts. Cornely and Daniel Lopez combined to pitch the final four innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven.

Trapp went 2-for-2 at the plate, and scored a run, while Kenny Swab had two hits in three at-bats with a double. Watts went 1-for-4 with his double and had the only runs batted in for Burlington, bringing in two. Bringas went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, while committing two errors at third base, while Cam Connor struck out three times as part of an 0-for-4 night.

Kubitza had two hits in four at-bats with four RBI and two runs scored. Larson had two hits, both home runs, but hit the ball hard in all four of his at-bats. Reyes scored two runs, while recording just one hit.

Danville wins the series, 2-1, and has evened the series with the Royals. Burlington returns home on Sunday to open a six game home stand with the Elizabethton Twins, starting at 6:00.

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Appalachian League Stories from July 23, 2011


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