ApL Burlington Sock Puppets

Royals Come Up Short In Series Opener

Published on July 22, 2011 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Burlington Sock Puppets News Release


Danville, VA- The Burlington Royals suffered their second straight loss, falling to the Danville Braves, 5-4, on Thursday night at Dan Daniel Memorial Park. Danville's win evens the season series at three games apiece. Starter Eric Cantrell takes the loss for Burlington, and is now 0-3, while Lucas La Point earned his first win, despite giving up all four runs.

Burlington got on the scoreboard in their first at bat on an RBI single by Jorge Bonifacio, who had four hits in the game. In the home-half of the first, doubles from Brandon Drury and Nick DeSantiago each brought in a run, and the Braves took a 2-1 lead entering the second inning.

In the third, after Jose Rodriguez walked, he stole second base with Lane Adams at the plate. Adams hit a ball to the wall in right field that scored in Rodriguez, but as Adams tried to stretch the play to third, he was thrown out. His RBI double tied the game at two.

In the bottom of the inning, with one out, Kyle Kubitza tripled down the right field line. Burlington manager Nelson Liriano came out to argue the call, and was ejected. Kubitza would score on a sacrifice fly from Drury to give Danville the lead.

The two teams would continue to trade shots, as in the top of the fourth, starting when newcomer Anthony Howard reached on an error, and scored on a double from Jared Dyer. In the Royals' next at bat, Bonifacio homered to center, his fourth of the year, give the Royals their first lead since the first inning. The lead would be short lived, as in the bottom of the inning, the Braves would send eight batters to the plate, and have two runs cross to take a 5-4 lead. The fifth would see the last scoring of the game. The Royals had a chance in the top of the eighth with runners on first and second with no outs. Adrian Bringas singled to center, and Jin-Ho Shin was waved around third, but was gunned down at the plate by Kurt Fleming. As Shin slid in, he collided hard with Braves' catcher Nick DeSantiago, and had to leave the game after being helped off the field. Burlington had Adams on first with two outs, and Bonifacio at the plate, who was 4-for-4 at the time, but grounded out back to the pitcher, Lucas, to end the game.

Cantrell went four and a third innings, allowing five hits on seven runs with four strikeouts. Malcom Culver pitched one and two thirds, allowing two hits and walking two. Alex Rivers pitched the seventh and the eighth allowing no hits, and walking one.

For Danville, Lucas La Point surrendered 10 hits, and three earned runs, four overall, including the home run to Bonifacio. Williams Perez gave up four hits, while striking out three in two and a third innings. Joe Lucas earned the save, pitching an inning and two thirds, allowing one hit.

Bonifacio led all batters, going 4-for-5, including his home run. Adams recorded three hits, scored a run, and knocked in one. Bringas and Justin Trapp each went 2-for-4.

Kubitza had a 2-for-4 night, and scored two runs for the home team. Nick Ahmed had two hits in five at bats, and also scored twice. Drury had a 1-for-3 night, with two RBI.

The 15 Royals' hits are the most allowed by the Danville pitching staff in a game this season, but the Braves escaped, and are back at .500. The two teams will take the field Friday night at 7:00 for game two of the series.

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Appalachian League Stories from July 22, 2011


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