D-Braves pound out 27 runs in rout

An Independence Day matchup between the Appalachian League's Danville Braves and Burlington Royals turned into a Fifth of July game as well.

After a two-hour and four-minute rain delay, the two clubs took three hours and 59 minutes to finish an epic 27-6 Danville win at 1:03 a.m. ET.

Things started badly for the Royals and went downhill from there as the Braves scored four runs in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Danville took advantage of four walks, an error, a hit batsman, a wild pitch and several stolen bases -- including 6-foot-2, 220-pound first baseman William Beckwith's steal of home -- to take the early lead.

The hits started coming in the second, which center fielder Kurt Fleming led off by hitting his first homer of the season. Beckwith later tripled and scored on a passed ball.

Danville plated six more runs in the third as the Royals hit two more batters, committed a fielding error, uncorked a wild pitch and yielded three hits.

The D-Braves failed to score in the fourth -- their only scoreless frame of the game. Burlington plated six runs in the bottom of the inning, all after two quick outs. The Royals collected six hits and a walk to cut the deficit in half at 12-6.

The former order restored itself as Danville plated four runs in the fifth, four more in the sixth, two in the seventh, three in the eighth and two in the ninth.

The D-Braves' 27 runs, 22 hits, seven doubles, two triples, four homers and 12 walks were all high marks for the short-season Appy League this year. They had scored 50 runs and hit four home runs in their first 13 games before Monday's outburst.

Fleming and Beckwith were among the five Braves with three hits apiece. Beckwith went 3-for-3 with a triple, five runs scored and three RBIs. Catcher Nick DeSantiago was the only Danville starter without an RBI or multiple hits -- he was 1-for-4 with a double and four runs scored.

The D-Braves went 12-for-26 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men stranded.

Braves reliever Gregory Ross, an 18th-round pick in last month's Draft, improved to 2-0 after three professional outings. He gave up two hits while striking out five in 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

Burlington starter Angel Baez fell to 0-2 with a 12.00 ERA after yielding six runs -- three earned -- on three hits and four walks in two innings.