Royals snap losing skid with road triumph over Astros
GREENEVILLE, TENN.- The Burlington Royals' six-game losing streak came to an end on Monday with a 4-2 road win over the Greeneville Astros. RHP Nik Stephenson threw six strong innings for his second win of the season and the offense supported him with early runs.
Greeneville (26-23) drew first blood when 2B Antonio Nunez reached on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the first and scored on a throwing error. The Royals (21-28) were quick to answer, though. 3B Manny Olloque doubled with two outs in the top of the second and scored on an RBI single by 2B D.J. Burt. The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the third when CF Amalani Fukofuka singled, went to second on a balk, took third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by RF Logan Moon.
Burlington kept the hot bats going in the fourth when two runs scored. DH Chase Vallot singled, LF Brian Fletcher walked and SS Jose Martinez singled. Vallot scored on a wild pitch and Olloque hit a sacrifice fly to score Fletcher and give the Royals a 4-1 lead.
The Astros would score another run in the fourth inning on an RBI groundout by SS Jeffry Santos. Stephenson worked around the trouble in the first and fourth as he retired the last seven hitters he faced before being lifted from the game. Stephenson allowed only one earned run on three hits over six innings, striking out eight Astros.
LHP Carlos Herrera followed Stephenson by pitching the seventh and eighth. He struck out four and allowed only one Astros hit in his relief appearance. LHP Estarlin Cordero earned the save for the Royals, working a scoreless ninth and leaving two aboard.
Martinez and Burt had two hits each for Burlington and 3B Luis Reynoso was 2-for-4 for Greeneville.
The series concludes with a rubber match on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. from Pioneer Park. RHP Yunior Marte (1-3, 4.58) starts for the Royals against Greeneville RHP Devonte German (0-1, 3.27).
Burlington 4, Greeneville 2
WP: Stephenson (2-3)
LP: Dykxhoorn (2-3)
SV: Cordero (3)