ApL Burlington Sock Puppets

Pitching Leads the Way in Victory at Danville

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


Danville, VA- The Burlington Royals used three pitchers to hold the Danville Braves to two runs and four hits, in a one-run win over the Braves, emerging the victor on Friday night, 3-2. Matt Murray earned his first win of the year in what is statistically his best start of the 2011 campaign. Greg Ross is dealt the loss, dropping the Maryland native to 3-1.

The Royals had a chance in the top of the first inning, with runners on first and second, with two outs, but could not continue the inning. In the bottom of the second, Danville struck. William Beckwith led off with a walk, followed by a single by Nick DeSantiago. The next batter, Sam Munson, doubled to right, scoring Beckwith. Murray would buckle down and retire the next three batters to strand runners on second and third. The Braves would leave just three men on base over nine innings.

Murray Watts singed to lead off the fourth, and would be followed by Adrian Bringas, who would hit a ball to second base misplayed by Fernando De Los Santos, moving Watts to second. Anthony Howard would single to right field, his first hit with the Royals this season, scoring Watts from second to tie the game. Three batters later, with the bases loaded in a tie game, Jose Rodriguez grounded a ball to second base. De Los Santos flipped the ball to second, getting the force out on Dyer, but the Braves were unable to turn a double play, allowing Howard to score from third and giving the Royals a 2-1 lead.

In Burlington's next at bat, Justin Trapp would lead off with a double, and then steal third. A wild pitch from Ross would allow Trapp to score from third, giving the Royals a 3-1 lead. In the seventh, Burlington had a golden opportunity to expand their lead after a triple from Trapp with one out, leaving him stranded 90 feet away.

In the bottom of the eighth, with De Los Santos on third and one out, Nick Ahmed launched a fly ball deep to center that was caught by Lane Adams, but deep enough to score the run from third, making it a one run game.

Nick Graffeo retired the side in the bottom of the ninth, striking out two batters, earning his fourth save, and giving the Royals their 12th win.

Murray helped lead the way for Burlington, going six innings, and surrendering one run on two hits, while walking two and fanning four. In relief, Rudy Brown pitched an inning and a third, giving up an unearned run and one hit, and striking out three. Graffeo went an inning and two thirds, allowing a hit, and striking out three.

Ross gave up three runs, one earned, on five hits, struck out three and walked four. Dan Winnie pitched two innings, giving up a hit and a walk, with two strikeouts. Wilson Rivera struck out two batters in a hitless eighth, while Jarret Miller struck out the side in the top of the ninth.

Dyer went 2-for-4 with a double, raising his average to .286. Trapp had a double and a triple as part of a 2-for-5 night. Howard has his first hit with Burlington this season, going 1-for-2 with a run scored, and reached base three times. Watts, who is now sporting a five game hitting streak, scored a run, in a 1-for-3 effort. Burlington had six hits in the game, all coming from just four batters.

Danville had four hits in the game, getting 1-for-3 nights from four players with Munson and Ahmed knocking in the only runs.

The two teams will square off in the series finale on Saturday night, with the Royals now leading the season series, 4-3. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 at Dan Daniel Memorial Park.

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Appalachian League Stories from July 23, 2011


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