Royals Complete Sweep of Astros
BURLINGTON, N.C.- The Burlington Royals capped off the 2016 regular season home slate in style with a 6-1 win over the Greeneville Astros on Tuesday night in front of 1,685 at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
The Royals improved to 35-23 and now own a two-game lead in the Appalachian League's East Division. Greeneville falls to 28-31.
Burlington struck first in the bottom of the second inning. LF Vance Vizcaino led off with a single, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. He scored on an RBI groundout to second off the bat of C Michael Arroyo.
The Royals extended their lead against Astros RHPs Forrest Whitley and Colin McKee in the third. With two out, 3B Emmanuel Rivera and 1B Chris DeVito drew back-to-back walks. DH Boo Vazquez lined a ball sharply down the first base line, scoring both runners. Vazquez ended up at second with a double on the play.
Vazquez drove in two more runs to push the lead to 5-0 in the fifth. 2B Gabriel Cancel hit a one out single, followed by a double by Rivera. DeVito walked to load the bases, and Vazquez hit a bloop single to shallow left that plated Cancel and Rivera.
RHP David McKay lasted five innings for the Royals, blanking the Astros on four hits and two walks. He struck out four en route to picking up the win. LHP Vance Tatum tossed a scoreless sixth and seventh to keep the game 5-0 into the eight.
The Royals pushed across an unearned run in the eighth. Vizcaino reached on an error to begin the frame, and went to third on a single by C Michael Arroyo. When the ball hit by Arroyo was bobbled in the outfield, Vizcaino turned to score.
The Astros' lone run scored in the ninth. DH Connor MacDonald walked with one out, and 1B Troy Sieber followed with a single. A two-out single by RF Carlos Machado plated MacDonald, but RHP Justin Camp induced a fly ball to end the game.
NOTABLE…
- Vazquez drove in four of the Royals' six runs. He had a two-hit night with his single and double.
- Cancel was 3-for-5, hitting his team-high 16th double and a pair of singles.
- The Royals drew five walks, three by DeVito.
- Burlington finished the year having won five of six against Greeneville.
UP NEXT
The Royals hit the road to Elizabethton on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. to start a three-game series with the Twins. Fans can listen to the game live and for free at www.elizabethtontwins.com.
Burlington 6, Greeneville 1
WP: David McKay (3-2)
LP: Forrest Whitley (0-1)