Royals Score Season-High 18 in win at Johnson City

JOHNSON CITY, TN - The Burlington Royals (21-40) defeated the Johnson City Cardinals (26-35) by a score of 18-8 on Wednesday evening. Burlington put up a season high 18 runs and 22 hits and with the win, the Royals clinched the series victory.
After scoring 13 runs in a win Tuesday night, Burlington's offense came out strong again in game two of the series. Eric Cole and Juan Carlos Negret had RBIs in the first inning to put the B-Royals on top 2-0.
After Johnson City scored a run in the bottom of the first, Matt Morales came through with a two-run single in the second to make it 4-1. The Cardinals scored the next five runs to take a 6-4 lead.
In the fourth, Cole picked up his second RBI of the game, and Negret drove in his second and third runs of the night to put the Royals back ahead 7-6. The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Burlington tallied six runs in the top of the fifth to take a commanding 13-7 lead. Colby Schultz, Isaiah Henry, Morales and Chris Hudgins all drove in runs in the frame.
The Cardinals scored in the bottom of the fifth, but the B-Royals got that run right back in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Jose Marquez.
In the ninth, Negret hit his team-leading ninth home run of the year and Rafael Romero picked up an RBI single to make it 18-8.
The third and final game of the series will be Thursday night in Johnson City. First pitch is scheduled 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 - Ismael Maldonado (2-1)
LP - Kyle Leahy (3-3)
Highlights:
Jose Marquez - 4-5, RBI, 5 R
Matt Morales - 3-6, 3 RBI, 2 R
Eric Cole - 3-5, 2 RBI, 2 R
Juan Carlos Negret - 2-5, HR, 6 RBI