Explosive Extra Innings Series Finale Goes to Bluefield
Published on July 28, 2019 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, Va. - A back and forth contest that saw the Danville Braves and Bluefield Blue Jays trade the lead several times ended in extra innings Sunday night, with Bluefield emerging victorious 9-7. The contest was the first with extra innings for the D-Braves since June 30 at Pulaski.
The two teams combined for 26 hits, the most combined hits in a D-Braves game this season. 11 of those 26 were extra base hits, with nine doubles and two home runs.
Bryce Ball continued his stellar season with a 3-for-4 day at the plate including his 13th home run, after homing Friday as well. He has moved into a tie for fourth in team history for home runs in a single season, with just five dingers between Ball and Eric Campbell's club-best 18 homer campaign in 2005. Victor De Hoyos also had a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two doubles.
Bluefield wasted no time scoring, putting up a pair of RBI doubles that drove in three runs in the first inning. In the bottom half of the frame, Cody Milligan led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third base on wild pitch. Beau Philip hit an RBI groundout to short to drive home Milligan for Danville's first run. After a Connor Blair strikeout, Ball singled and advanced to third on Willie Carter's single to set up another scoring opportunity. Ray Hernandez then smacked a single to right field to drive in Ball and make it 3-2 before being caught stealing to end the inning.
Bluefield added a two-out RBI single in the second inning to extend the lead back to 4-2. Cody Birdsong led off the bottom half with a hit by pitch walk and De Hoyos hit a double to move him to third base. Michael Mateja grounded out to second to drive Birdsong home and close the gap back to one run. Milligan drew his second consecutive walk to put runners on the corners before Philip grounded into a double play.
Bluefield knocked Danville starting pitcher Darius Vines out of the game with a double in the third inning but scored no runs. The D-Braves got a leadoff walk from Blair and a single to Ball that advanced him to third to start their side of the third. After Carter struck out, an RBI single from Hernandez and an RBI double from Birdsong gave Danville a 5-4 advantage and its first lead of the day.
Bluefield tied the game at 5 with a balk from Danville pitcher Alger Hodgson bringing home a run. The D-Braves streak of innings scored in ended at three when Danville was unable to bring anybody home in the bottom of the frame.
Bluefield tacked another run on the board to retake the lead 6-5 on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth, but the D-Braves answered right back with two of their own in the bottom half to retake a 7-6 lead off of Ball's solo home run and an RBI double from De Hoyos.
Both pitching staffs settled in for the sixth and seventh innings, allowing no scoring in either frame. In the eighth, Bluefield drew a leadoff walk, advanced the runner to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single to knot things back up. Michael Mateja hit Danville's fourth double in the eighth with two outs but was stranded by a groundout.
Bluefield had runners on the corners and two outs in the ninth before Alex Camacho struck Scotty Bradley out swinging to escape the jam. In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, Bluefield intentionally walked Ball before Willie Carter flew out to center field to send the game to extra innings.
With the extra innings rule placing a runner on second to begin the inning, Bluefield got a two-run home run from Steward Berroa to take a 9-7 lead. Camacho avoided giving up any other runs, but the side was retired for Danville to give the Blue Jays the win.
Danville is off of Monday before traveling to Pulaski for a three-game road trip beginning Tuesday.
Appalachian League Stories from July 28, 2019
- Pirates Edged by Elizabethton - Bristol State Liners
- G-Reds Swept in Johnson City - Greeneville Flyboys
- Cards Top Reds, Earn Second Sweep of the Season - Johnson City Doughboys
- Twins Offense Falls Silent in 1-0 Loss - Elizabethton River Riders
- Widell Earns First Pro Win Behind Four-Run Third - Elizabethton River Riders
- Explosive Extra Innings Series Finale Goes to Bluefield - Danville Otterbots
- Twins Offense Falls Silent in 1-0 Loss - Elizabethton River Riders
- Widell Earns First Pro Win Behind Four-Run Third - Elizabethton River Riders
- Yankees Take Series Finale over Mets - Pulaski River Turtles
- Baty's Big Day Not Enough to Win Series - Kingsport Axmen
- Royals Edge out 3-2 Win in Rubber Match with Rays - Burlington Sock Puppets
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