Royals Flush D-Braves, 7-5
July 20, 2012 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, Va. - The Burlington Royals won their fourth straight game against the Danville Braves 7-5 Friday night at American Legion Post 325 Field.
Moving Aris Alcantara to the number three spot and batting Trenton Moses clean-up were two last-minute line-up changes for the D-Braves. And it paid off big for the Braves in their very first at-bats. Alcantara cracked a two-out home run, Moses singled, and left fielder Felix Marte and designated hitter Casey Kalenkosky, hit back-to-back doubles to open the scoring, 3-0.
The Royals put together a two-out rally of their own and crept within a run in the fourth. Catcher Cameron Gallagher reached base when his ground ball caught the lip of the infield grass and caromed off the mitt of Moses. The Royals made the most of the error as designated hitter Fred Ford hit a two-run home run to make it 3-2.
Left fielder Terrance Gore split the left field gap to get on in the fifth. Leaning, Gore stole second. But when catcher Josh Elander's throw was way off the mark and fell to the outfield grass, Gore went to third. With the infield drawn-in, shortstop Kenny Diekroeger deposited a ball into the outfield, which scored Gore from third and tied the game at three all.
But the tie game was short-lived and the Royals retook the lead in the sixth. Braves starter Mauricio Cabrera plunked Ford and first baseman Mark Threlkeld went yard on a first-pitch fastball to put the Royals out in front 5-3.
In the 138th game of his career, Braves shortstop Ronald Luna hit his very first home run, the fourth homer of the game, a sixth inning solo shot, which cut the Royals lead to one. The Braves tied it at five all the long way in the seventh. Second baseman Levi Hyams and Elander drew back-to-back walks. Alcantara dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance the former to third and the latter to second. With Moses up to bat, on a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate, he hit an opposite field groundout to plate the tying run.
The Braves benefitted from a costly Royals error in the eighth, but couldn't capitalize. Reliever Jossiel Martinez dropped a mile-high pop fly by Kalenkosky, who ended up at second base on the error. Jose Peraza replaced Kalenkosky on the base paths and was bunted over to third by Blake Brown. Luna then flew into a double play when center fielder Bubba Starling doubled up a tagging Peraza on a bang-bang play at the plate.
And that was as close as the Braves got to winning the game. The Royals padded their lead in the ninth. Right fielder Chris Elder singled and the Royals executed two perfectly placed back-to-back bunts to push Elder to third. Diekroeger singled him in before Starling tripled Diekroeger home for the 7-5 win.
The Braves will try to avoid the six-game series sweep tomorrow at Burlington Athletic Stadium before they embark on a three-game series against the Bluefield Blue Jays.
Mauricio Cabrera will toe the slab for the D-Braves and the Royals will counter with lefty Patrick Conroy, who is undefeated this season.
Tickets can be purchased to all future home games 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.).
Appalachian League Stories from July 20, 2012
- Sox Produce Early in 5-2 Win over Mariners - Bristol White Sox
- Kingsport Mets win both games of doubleheader against Astros - Greeneville Astros
- Royals Flush D-Braves, 7-5 - Danville Otterbots
- D-Braves Partner with American Red Cross - Danville Otterbots
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