D-Braves Fall in Extras, Swept by Pulaski

DANVILLE, Va. - The Danville Braves have lost a season-high five games consecutively as they were outlasted by the Pulaski Yankees in 10 innings on Friday night at Legion Field.

Danville (15-14) held leads twice in the game, but were unable to overcome a three-run ninth inning by Pulaski.
The Braves took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning behind a two-out rally beginning with a double from Carlos Baerga Jr. Griffin Benson followed with a walk, and Ray Soderman roped a flair out to shallow right field, scoring two on the play.
Pulaski came back with a run of their own in the top half of the third, but Danville scored two more in the bottom of the third. After a Greg Cullen walk, CJ Alexander smacked a one-out double to deep right field off the wall. Alexander brought in Cullen and reached third base off the throw at the plate. The next batter, Alexander scored on a wild pitch, giving Danville the 4-3 lead.
Danville added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Cullen opened the inning with a triple to deep right field, missing a homerun by inches. Alexander knocked him in the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly.
Pulaski scored two in the top of the seventh to reclaim the lead, 6-5. The D-Braves opened the home half of the inning with back-to-back singles, and CJ Alexander brought in a second sac fly of the evening, knotting the game at 6-6.
Neither team brushed anything across the plate until the 10th inning, where Pulaski exploded for three runs.
With the free runner starting at second base in the bottom half of the 10th, due to the new MiLB rules, Danville was unable to mount the comeback.
Tanner Lawson made his fourth start in a Danville Braves uniform, and gave up two earned over two innings of work. The first-year professional sees his ERA dip to 4.76.
Jake Higginbotham surrendered his first earned run of the evening. Through 14.2 innings this year, Higginbotham, Appalachian League Pitcher of the Week, holds a 0.61 ERA.
Danville will look to get back in the win column on Saturday night as it opens a three-game homestand against the Johnson City Cardinals through Monday. First pitch is at 7 p.m.