Marval walk-off keys Danville's 5-4 win; Braves can win division title with victory at home tomorrow
August 22, 2009 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA - Osman Marval's walk-off single in the 10th inning sent the Danville Braves past the Greeneville Astros Saturday night before 1,079 fans at Dan Daniel Memorial Park. The win, coupled with losses by Princeton and Bluefield, lowered the Braves' magic number to clinch the East Division title to one. That means a win tomorrow at 4 p.m. against Johnson City vaults the Braves (41-17) into the Appy League Championship Series for the first time since 2007.
The Braves fell behind 3-1 early in the game, giving up single runs in the first three innings. Danville plated a run in the first inning on an RBI groundout by Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg that scored L.V. Ware, who doubled to lead off.
Danville tied the game in the fifth inning as two singles and a hit batsman loaded the bases with one out. Spanjer-Furstenburg ripped a single into right-center that scored two runs to tie the game at 3-3.
The game remained tied until the eighth inning, following some brilliant relief work by Julio Surinach. Robby Hefflinger started the rally with a one-out single. Pinch-runner Bobby Rauh immediately stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bases for Matt Weaver, who lifted a fly ball to left. Ryan Humphrey settled under it, ready to throw out Rauh trying to score, but the ball popped out of Humphrey's glove, re-loading the bases and giving the Braves a 4-3 lead.
The Braves could not add on in the inning and Greeneville used a bloop RBI single by Aaron Bray to tie the game. Danville nearly scored in the ninth inning as Mycal Jones walked and stole second. Cory Harrilchak sent a fly ball to right, and Jones tried to advance to third. The throw from Wilton Infante went to the fence, but pitcher Joan Belliard's throw home barely beat Jones, who could not get his hand to the plate before Bubby Williams could apply the tag.
The Braves eventually scored in the 10th inning as Christian Bethancourt reached second on a throwing error, the Astros' fourth miscue of the game, by shortstop Jiovanni Mier. Bethancourt then stole third and scored on Marval's lined single to center, sending the 1,079 fans home happy.
Casey Hodges (2-0) picked up the win, working two scoreless innings of relief. Trevor Smink (1-1) took the loss, allowing the unearned run on one hit in the 10th. Cory Rasmus got the start for Danville and allowed three runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Surinach was dominant in his 5.1 relief innings, surrendering just one hit and two walks with six strikeouts.
Marval extended his hitting streak to seven games and Ware and Spanjer-Furstenburg had two hits apiece. Spanjer-Furstenburg became the league's RBI leader with 50.
The Braves send left-hander Brett Oberholtzer (4-2, 2.37 ERA) to the hill Sunday at 4 p.m. against Johnson City's Reynier Gonzalez (2-4, 6.21 ERA). It is Sam's Club Sunday at the ballpark as any fan showing a membership card gets a GA ticket for just $2.50.
Fans can follow all Braves play-by-play action for home games on WMNA 106.3 FM or on the station's website www.espninva.com. For other information on the schedule, tickets, group nights, and/or partnership opportunities please contact the Danville Braves office at (434) 797-3792, info@dbraves.com, or log on to www.dbraves.com.
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Appalachian League Stories from August 22, 2009
- Marval walk-off keys Danville's 5-4 win; Braves can win division title with victory at home tomorrow - Danville Otterbots
- Pulaski announces 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame class - Pulaski Mariners
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