Royals No-Hit Kernersville in Exhibition

BURLINGTON, NC - Seven Burlington Royals pitchers combined to no-hit the Kernersville Bulldogs in Sunday's exhibition contest. The Royals took it by a final score of 4-1 in the seven-inning affair.
Kernersville struck first against the Burlington starter Marlin Willis in the first frame of the game. After walks to the first two batters, Michael Garvey scored on a double play to give Kernersville the 1-0 advantage. After that, the B-Royals pitching staff was untouchable.
Willis went three innings and did not allow another run before giving way to Bryar Johnson. Starting with Johnson, the Burlington bullpen combined to pitch four scoreless, hitless innings.
Johnson worked an easy fourth and was followed by Malcolm Van Buren who pitched the fifth. Yerelmy Garcia pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning to preserve the no-hitter. B-Royals manager Brooks Conrad used Jose De Leon, Emmanuel Estevez and Kelvin Gonzalez to record the three outs in the seventh and final inning to finish off the no-hitter.
Offensively, Burlington was held at bay through the first three innings, but tied the game in the fourth. After a Rubendy Jaquez walk and stolen base, Montae Bradshaw hit a ground ball off the pitcher's glove that bounced towards the third base side. Michael Garvey picked up the ball and threw it to third, but it bounced off Bryan Kowalski's glove and bounded away from him. Jaquez came in to score and tie the game.
In the fifth, Kember Nacero led off with a single. Then, Juan Carlos Negret ripped a ball into center field moving Nacero to third. As the throw came in from the outfield, it rolled away from all of the Bulldogs fielders and Nacero was able to come in to score and give the Royals a 2-1 lead.
Burlington's best offensive inning of the game came in the sixth when they scored two, one on an RBI single from Isaiah Henry and the other from an RBI triple off the bat of Jeison Guzman.
The Royals will open the 2018 Appalachian League season on Tuesday on the road against the Elizabethton Twins. The home opener is on Friday against the Bluefield Blue Jays. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Burlington Royals are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Single-game tickets are on sale now.
Call 336-222-0223 or visit www.burlingtonroyals.com for more information.
WP - Malcolm Van Buren
LP - Jeremiah Triplett
SV - Kelvin Gonzalez
Highlights:
Jeison Gonzalez - 2-3, 3B, RBI, SB
Rubendy Jaquez - 3 BB, 3 SB, 2 R
Isaiah Henry - 1-3, RBI, R, SB