Twins Blank Danville 2-0
July 10, 2018 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Elizabethton River Riders News Release
After being blanked through five innings and no hit to boot, the Elizabethton Twins showed why it only takes one in the sixth.
Following a pair of one-out walks, Twins designated hitter Ryan Jeffers stung a single to left to load the bases and set off a two-run rally as Elizabethton topped Danville 2-0 on Monday night at Joe O'Brien Field.
Elizabethton (10-8) started lefty Kody Funderburk, and the Twins backed him with solid defense including three inning-ending double plays that got the hurler off the hook. Danville (10-9) countered with a left-hander of their own in Tanner Lawson.
"We couldn't do much of anything against their lefties," Twins manager Ray Smith said. "We had to wait until a right-hander came in to get our first hit. I think what helped us a little was we were in jams the first three innings and got double plays to get out of them. This seemed like a late-season game to me, in that it was cleaner, less sloppy."
Neither gave up a run in his night's work with Funderburk going four complete and Lawson pitching just two frames. Lawson struck out four and walked one while Funderburk gave up four hits with two walks and one strikeout.
In the sixth Braves right-hander Bradley Welsh walked Lean Marrero and Yunior Severino with one away leading to Jeffers' base knock. First baseman Chris Williams singled to left to plate the first run of the contest and third baseman Alex Robles did likewise for a two-run Twins lead.
Derek Molina pitched the last two innings giving up no runs on no hits and struck out the side in the top of the ninth for his second save of the young season. Moises Gomez (1-0) pitched three shutout innings striking out two and walking just one.
"He won't be here much longer," Smith said. "He is working on a pitch or two, and then he'll go up. That's what this league is about, developing players and moving them up. We carry on and do the best we can with what we have left."
The Twins travel to Johnson City on Tuesday for a four-game set with the Cardinals.
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Appalachian League Stories from July 10, 2018
- Pirates Fall in Road Trip Opener - Bristol State Liners
- Big Innings Lead D-Braves over Burlington - Danville Otterbots
- Romero's Walk-Off Ends Thriller - Kingsport Axmen
- D-Braves Host Burlington Royals for Four-Game Series - Danville Otterbots
- Jarred Kelenic Promoted To Kingsport Mets - Kingsport Axmen
- Twins Blank Danville 2-0 - Elizabethton River Riders
- Cardinals Win Finale and Series against Pulaski - Johnson City Doughboys
- Pirates Take Series vs. Princeton - Bristol State Liners
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