D-Braves Finish Off Sweep with Extra-Innings Triumph

DANVILLE, Va. - Two nights after a walk-off infield single, the Danville Braves capped off a series sweep of the Elizabethton Twins with another walk-off win, this time in extra innings. Willie Carter beat the throw home on a fielder's choice with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning to lift the home side to a third straight win, this time by a score of 3-2.
Danville got another solid night from its pitching staff, scattering six hits and five walks across ten innings of work. The bullpen in particular was very effective, allowing just one hit and three walks while escaping multiple jams to keep the team's hopes alive. The staff stranded 12 Elizabethton runners and held their foes to a 1-for-14 night with runners in scoring position.
Elizabethton got a two-out double in the first inning and advanced the runner to third on a wild pitch but Danville starter Tyler Owens struck out the next hitter to end the threat. The Twins would not be denied in the second frame, as a sacrifice fly plated the game's first run.
Danville put runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the third, but a groundout and a strikeout left them stranded. In the fourth inning the Twins loaded the bases with one out, prompting Danville manager Anthony Nuñez to call to his bullpen and bring on reliever Filyer Sanchez. Sanchez got two outs without allowing a run, keeping it a 1-0 game.
After both sides retired the next six batters each, Elizabethton put runners on first and second in the top of the seventh. The Twins scored their second run on a throwing error that loaded the bases, but two strikeouts from reliever Deyvis Julian kept them from plating any more.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Danville got a leadoff single from Beau Philip and a balk to advance him to second. Willie Carter singled to second base and an Elizabethton throwing error gave Danville its first run, making it 2-1.
In the next inning, Mitch Calandra led off the frame with a single and was subsequently replaced by Jose Palma as a pinch runner. A passed ball and a groundout advanced him to third, and an RBI double from Cody Milligan evened the game up at 2. Milligan however was thrown out at second after the field umpire determined that his foot came off the bag and was ejected arguing the call. Danville right fielder Connor Blair was ejected after the end of the frame arguing the play as well.
After no scoring in the ninth, the teams headed to the tenth inning. With the extra innings rule putting a runner on second to start the frame, Danville pitcher Peyton Williams got two outs on the board. He then struck out the next batter, though the pitch was ruled a wild pitch and allowed the batter to reach first and the runner to reach third. Williams retired the next Twin to end the threat.
With Carter starting the inning on second, Cody Birdsong advanced him to third with a groundout, bringing up Ray Hernandez. Hernandez slapped a ball to third and the throw home was off target and too slow to beat Carter, who slid safely for the winning run.
The sweep was the first of the season for the D-Braves. Next up for Danville is a three-game home series against the Kingsport Mets, with the first game beginning Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.