DANVILLE, Va. - Zack Soria's one-out RBI single up the middle marked the D-Braves only hit on the evening and broke up the Burlington Royals' combined no-hit bid in the bottom half of the eighth, but the D-Braves fell 2-1 at Legion Field on Tuesday night.
DANVILLE, Va. - Zack Soria's one-out RBI single up the middle marked the D-Braves only hit on the evening and broke up the Burlington Royals' combined no-hit bid in the bottom half of the eighth, but the D-Braves fell 2-1 at Legion Field on Tuesday night.
The Royals made it 7 and 1/3 innings without surrendering a hit.
Burlington's Marcelo Martinez started with six no-hit innings over 93 pitches, including 67 strikes. The left-hander struck out 10 batters and only walked two D-Braves. Ted Cillis gave up the no-hitter and surrendered the run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Altogether, Burlington struck out 14 D-Braves.
The D-Braves were one-hit for the second time this year, but had six baserunners all evening. The last time Danville was one-hit was July 18 vs. the Pulaski Yankees, where the Braves lost 4-0. The mark in hits ties for the fewest hits this season.
CJ Alexander opened the bottom of the ninth with a walk, but the D-Braves couldn't get anything going.
Danville's relief pitching was outstanding, hurling seven innings of shutout baseball, including nine strikeouts.
Jake Higginbotham threw three scoreless innings with five strikeouts, only allowing three hits. Mason McReaken in his second outing as a professional pitched two one-hit innings with two strikeouts. Brooks Wilson finished the game for Danville with two innings with two punchouts and only allowed one hit.
Tanner Lawson was Danville's starting pitcher and gave up two runs in the top of the second. Overall, Lawson struck out three on three hits over 36 pitches and 20 strikes.
Danville will look to secure its fifth consecutive series victory against Burlington on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
