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ApL Burlington Sock Puppets

Late Innings Cost Burlington at Home Against Johnson City

August 23, 2011 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Burlington Sock Puppets News Release


Burlington, NC- The Burlington Royals led over seven innings at Burlington Athletic Stadium against the Johnson City Cardinals, 6-4. Corey Hall takes the loss, falling to 2-2, while Roberto Canache earns the win, improving to 3-1. Royals' starter Rudy Brown pitched four and a third innings in his first start of the season, and struck out a season-high eight batters. The Cardinals will go for the sweep over Burlington on Wednesday night at 7:00.

Johnson City scored the first run of the game, coming in their first at bat when a double from Tyler Ramatulla scored Bryvic Valera, who had singled. In the bottom of the third, Burlington took the lead. With a man on and one out, Adrian Bringas homered to left-center field, his fifth of the year, to put the home team up 2-1. The next batter, Cam Conner, walked, and scored on an RBI double from Lane Adams, putting the Royals up by two.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when Burlington added to their lead. Bringas doubled with one out, and the next batter, Connor, knocked a two-bagger of his own, scoring Burlington's third baseman from second. Through seven innings, the Royals held a 4-1 advantage.

In the eighth, after Abel Gonzales allowed runners to first and second with one out, Corey Hall entered the game and the first batter he faced, Gary Apelian, hit a ball on the ground to Michael Antonio at shortstop, who looked to turn a double play and get out of the inning. His flip to second base went in to right field, allowing one run to cross the plate, and as Murray Watts chased down the loose ball, he was unable to field it, allowing the runner from first to score, making it a one run game with Apelian on third. The next batter, Anthony Garcia launched his sixth home run of the year over the left field wall, giving the visitors the lead. A sacrifice fly in the ninth from Neil Pritchard added an insurance run, sealing Burlington's fate.

2010 first round draft pick Tyrell Jenkins gave up three runs on four hits, while striking out seven batters over five innings. The first on in relief, Dyllon Nuernberg, allowed a run on two hits in an inning and two thirds. Canache and Heath Wyatt combined to earn the win and the save respectively, over the final two and one third innings.

Making his first start of the season, Brown struck out eight over four and a third, while surrendering five hits and one run. Gonzales pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth, and gave up two runs over his three innings of work. Over the final inning and two thirds, Hall allowed three runs on three hits.

For the second straight night, the leadoff hitter led the Cardinals. A night after Matt Williams went 4-for-5 in the leadoff spot, Valera was 3-for-5, stealing two bases, and his three hits being a game-high. Joel Montero and Tyler Rahmatulla each had two hits, with a run scored, while Garcia's only hit of the night was his sixth homer of the season. Striking out three times was David Washington, who finished 0-for-3.

For the home team, Bringas and Adams each went 2-for-4, with Bringas knocking in two runs, and crossing the plate twice. Conner and Jin-Ho Shin were the only other Royals to record a hit, and each scored a run.

Johnson City will go for the sweep of Burlington on Wednesday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium. Tickets are available by calling (222) 336-0223.

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