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Vavra helps E-Twins take opener in extras

Minnesota prospect delivers go-ahead single with two outs in 13th
August 31, 2014

Trey Vavra was kicking himself for the costly fielding error he committed during the eighth inning of Sunday's playoff opener. In the 13th, he made up for it.

The Twins outfield prospect roped a two-out single to right field that plated the go-ahead run as Rookie-level Elizabethton took Game 1 of the Appalachian League West Division finals at Johnson City, 7-6.

"I was just pretty devastated about that," Vavra said of his error in left field, which allowed the Cardinals to tie the game, 6-6. "And for me to get the opportunity to come through and put us on top and get the first win, I'm pretty excited about it."

Elizabethton had a 6-5 lead after seven innings. With two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth, Magneuris Sierra hit a ball to left that Vavra misplayed, allowing the runner from second to cross the plate.

The score did not change until the top of the 13th. Tanner English doubled with two outs and Johnson City elected to intentionally walk No. 6 Twins prospect Nick Gordon. That brought Vavra to the plate.

"I got down 0-2 actually and fought off a pitch and took a pitch," he said, "and then (Kevin Carlow) threw a little cutter on the outside corner and I hit a liner into right field."

Vavra also played an integral part in the Twins' four-run seventh by lacing a three-RBI double to center. English singled in a run earlier in the frame.

The Cardinals also posted a four-spot in the sixth. They scored via a groundout by Cole Lankford, a wild pitch from Cameron Booser, a double by Jose Godoy and an ensuing throwing error by right fielder Jeremias Pineda.

Dereck Rodriguez and Keaton Steele pitched the final five innings for the Twins, with the former yielding one hit and fanning three over two frames and the latter earning the win with three perfect frames. Carlow took the loss after giving up one run and four hits with one walk and one strikeout in two innings.

"It's a great feeling," Vavra said. "We fought all game to stay in it. For us to come through and win, it's huge in the first game."

In other Appalachian League playoff action:

Danville 4, Princeton 3

The Braves took Game 1 at home largely by plating four unearned runs in the first inning, highlighted by Tanner Murphy's three-run homer. Thomas Milone hit an RBI triple and Hector Montes lofted a sacrifice fly during the second, and in the eighth, Nic Wilson homered. Kyle Kinman fanned four in 1 2/3 innings to earn the save. Box score

Mark Emery is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Emery.