Murphy's Law: Blue Jays Starter Shuts Down D-Braves
Published on August 20, 2012 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
GAME 1
After a two and a half hour delay, due to heavy rains, durable D-Braves starter Ernesto Silva went to work. Silva retired the leadoff batter, but yielded a one out single to Blue Jays shortstop Dickie Joe Thon. With the hit-and-run in play, second baseman Christian Lopes singled, which pushed Thon to third. But Silva induced the D-Braves' league-leading 52nd twin killing of the season on a 6-4-3 double play ball to end the inning and keep his scoreless first inning streak intact.
In their first at-bats, the D-Braves answered with two consecutive singles of their own from designated hitter José Peraza and second baseman Levi Hyams. The hit-and-run was in play during the Hyams at-bat, and, with Peraza off on the pitch, advanced all the way to the opposite end of the diamond. Catcher Josh Elander then hit a two-run triple, his sixth hit in his last 7 plate appearances. The bases-clearing triple brought home Hyams and Peraza. The D-Braves then benefitted from a booted ball, the Blue Jays' fourth such error this series, to plate Elander and cap the three-run first.
The D-Braves chased Blue Jays starter Daniel Norris from the game in the fourth. Norris plunked left fielder Edison Sanchez to lead off the inning. The Sanchez beaning marked the sixth hit batsman by Blue Jays pitching this series. In a good piece of opposite field hitting, shortstop Ronald Luna laced a lawn dart to the left-field gap, which pushed Sanchez to third. Center fielder Logan Robbins then lobbed a deep sac fly to score Sanchez. Hyams, just 2-for-29 against left-handed pitching entering today's game, hit his third straight single off of Norris to score Luna and make it 5-0.
But the Blue Jays got on the board in a big way and made it a one run ballgame in the fifth. Right fielder Jacob Anderson and third baseman Emilio Guerrero, in his first hit of the series, cracked back-to-back singles. Leadoff man D.J. Davis kept the rally alive and doubled home Anderson. With Guerrero on third, Thon lifted a sac fly to left to score Guerrero and make it 2-0. Silva then came apart at the seams when Lopes went yard on a letter-high fastball to cut the lead to one.
D-Braves reliever Alex Wilson nailed down the two inning six out save, his second of the season, and the D-Braves' 5-4 lead largely stood. Silva threw 5.0 innings and allowed four runs (all earned) on eight hits and is credited with his fourth win of the season.
WP: Ernesto Silva (4-1)
LP: Daniel Norris (2-3)
S: Alex Wilson (2)
HR: Christian Lopes (4)
ATT: 594
TIME: 1:50
GAME 2
The Blue Jays rode the arm of southpaw starter Griffin Murphy, in a stellar spot start, to a 3-2 victory in the nightcap. Murphy has yet to allow an earned run 25 consecutive innings pitched.
After a pair of 1-2-3 first innings, the Blue Jays opened the scoring in the second. First baseman Seth Conner and right fielder Nico Taylor teamed-up to perfectly execute the Blue Jays' third hit-and-run of the doubleheader. Third baseman Matt Dean delivered the third single of the inning, which scored Conner. With runners at the corners, D-Braves catcher Troy Snitker failed to throw out Dean at second, which allowed Taylor to safely score on the delayed steal.
In the third, Conner lifted a sac fly, his second in the series, to score shortstop Jose Vega-Rosado and put another Blue Jays run on the board, 3-0.
Left fielder Kurt Fleming recorded the D-Braves first hit in the game, a two-out single in the third, which broke-up Murphy's no-hitter.
The D-Braves cracked the Blue Jays' bullpen in the fifth, but it was the 'pens own doing, as an errant throw allowed Snitker to score for the D-Braves first run of the game.
The heart of the D-Braves order managed to manufacture one run in their last at-bats, but the rally fell short.
D-Braves starter Rafael Briceno pitched 4.0 innings and allowed three runs (all earned) on five hits. Carlos Perez came on in relief in the fifth. Perez had pitched 4 1/3 innings in two appearances against the Blue Jays this season. He'd allowed no runs on just two hits with seven strikeouts. And he was explosive again in his third appearance against them this season. Perez pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of relief and recorded five strikeouts.
Murphy pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed no runs on just one hit and recorded a season high seven strikeouts to earn the win.
The D-Braves return home on Thursday, August 23rd for a three-game series against the Greeneville Astros in their final regular season home stand of the season.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Ticket Office at (434) 797-3792 or in-person at the ALP 325 Field Box Office (Mon. - Fri., 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.).
WP: Griffin Murphy (2-2-1)
LP: Rafael Briceno (3-2)
S: Les Williams (1)
ATT: 594
TIME: 2:02
Appalachian League Stories from August 20, 2012
- Murphy's Law: Blue Jays Starter Shuts Down D-Braves - Danville Otterbots
- Top Picks to Face Off - Elizabethton River Riders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
