Unable to Solve Southpaw: D-Braves Lose 10-2
August 9, 2012 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, Va. - The Burlington Royals rode the arm of left-handed starter Patrick Conroy to a 10-2 victory over the Danville Braves Thursday night at American Legion Post 325 Field. Conroy turned in a Quality Start for the Royals. He threw 6.0 innings and allowed one run (earned) on just six hits.
The Royals plated the first run of the game, again in the first inning, for the third straight time this series. Center fielder Terrance Gore split the gap for a lead off single, but was thrown out on a Humberto Arteaga fielder's choice. Catcher Troy Snitker was able to smother a wild pitch by D-Braves starter Lucas Sims, but Arteaga advanced to second anyways. First baseman Mark Threlkeld then opened the scoring with an RBI single.
Threlkeld legged out a lead off triple in the fourth. The relay throw was wide of the bag and Threlkeld hook-slid safely into third. He then scored when designated hitter Kenny Diekroeger doubled on a letter-high fastball from Sims. In his first at-bat, left fielder Alex Hudak doubled for his first hit in a Royals uniform.
Hudak doubled again in his second at-bat, which scored Diekroeger and padded the lead, 3-0.
The Royals benefitted from two costly errors and tacked on one more run in the fifth. Arteaga reached base on a throwing error by shortstop Ronald Luna and advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by reliever Rafael Briceno. Threlkeld then hit his second RBI single of the game to make it 4-0.
Conroy allowed more hits in the fifth inning than he had in the first four. Left fielder Edison Sanchez cracked a lead off double and scored the D-Braves first run of the game on a Blake Brown base knock. Right fielder Felix Marte singled for the third straight hit of the inning. With runners at first and second, Conroy issued his first walk of the game to load the bases. But one run on three hits was it for the D-Braves as Conroy got third baseman Carlos Franco to hit into an inning-ending groundout.
The Royals batted around and blew the lid off the game in the sixth. Third baseman Adrian Morales drew a walk, second baseman Jose Rodriguez singled, and Gore worked the second walk of the inning. With the table set, Arteaga hit a bases-clearing double, which was officially ruled a single and an error that scored Morales, Rodriguez and Gore. Catcher Cameron Gallagher then hit the second consecutive single of the inning before Threlkeld hit a sac fly to score Arteaga and cap the four run inning. Threlkeld accounted for five of the Royals' 10 runs.
Back-to-back doubles in the eighth from first baseman Casey Kalenkosky and pinch hitter Logan Robbins made it 8-2. In the ninth, the D-Braves committed their season high sixth error of the game, which allowed two more Royals' runners to cross home plate for the game-winning 10-2 score.
Sims pitched 4.0 innings and allowed three runs (all earned) on seven hits. Sims recorded a season high six strikeouts, but was lifted in the fifth in favor of Briceno. He pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits out of the bullpen.
The D-Braves hit the road for a six-game stand against the Kingsport Mets and Pulaski Mariners. They return to ALP 325 Field on August 17 for a five-game series against the Bluefield Blue Jays. The August 17 and 18 games will feature back-to-back doubleheaders.
It's Mystery Ball Night that Friday, August 17. Autographed baseballs and memorabilia from all around the sports industry will be wrapped up and made available for purchase. All proceeds will benefit Haven of Dan River Region, which is Danville/Pittsylvania County's new domestic violence/sexual assault coalition.
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.).
Appalachian League Stories from August 9, 2012
- Mariners rally to defeat Astros in 10 innings - Greeneville Astros
- Tenacious Mariners Battle Back, Defeat Astros 9-8 in the 10th - Pulaski Mariners
- Unable to Solve Southpaw: D-Braves Lose 10-2 - Danville Otterbots
- Pulaski Mariners to hold "Rock the Park" night at Calfee - Pulaski Mariners
- Batista, Blasik lead Astros to win over Mariners - Greeneville Astros
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