Rodgers pulls Royals into first place tie
Rodgers' performance followed up his previous start, in which he no-hit the Bristol White Sox through six innings. On Tuesday, the third round pick retired the first 13 Braves he faced before walking Felix Marte and giving up a single by Edison Sanchez. The fifth-inning hit ended Rodgers' streak of 10.2 hitless innings. The streak began in his final inning of work, two starts ago in Danville. Tonight's win was Rodgers' second on the year, as he improves to 2-0.
The Royals got all of their offense in the second and third innings. Kenny Diekroeger and Fred Ford hit back-to-back ground rule doubles to break the scoreless drought in the second. Then Cameron Gallagher singled to bring Ford home.
Henry Moreno gave Burlington an extra pair of runs in the fourth. The first baseman homered deep to left field with Gallagher on base for his third long ball of the Appalachian League season.
Gallagher and Moreno provided the bulk of Burlington's offense. Making his second return from a minor thumb injury, Gallagher went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Moreno's homer was part of a 2-for-3 night. Meanwhile, Ford's double continued his hot-hitting. He now has eight home runs in his last four games.
After Danville got its only two runs on a homer by Trenton Moses in the eighth, John Walter came in for the Royals to pick up the save. The right-hander battled some adversity in notching his third save of the season. He walked one and allowed a bloop single, bringing the lead run to the plate. Walter, however, struck out Blake Brown to finish off the game.
Burlington hosts Danville again tomorrow night. First pitch is at 7 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m.