Braves edge Reds, 6-3, in front of 3,574
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Danville scored a run in the second, added two more in the third and never looked back, as the Braves knocked off the Greeneville Reds, 6-3, in front of 3,574 fans at Pioneer Park on Wednesday night.With the loss, the Redlegs drop to 5-9 on the campaign, as
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Danville scored a run in the second, added two more in the third and never looked back, as the Braves knocked off the Greeneville Reds, 6-3, in front of 3,574 fans at Pioneer Park on Wednesday night.
With the loss, the Redlegs drop to 5-9 on the campaign, as the Braves moved back over the .500 mark at 8-7 on the season with the triumph.
Scoreless after an inning of play, RF Justin Smith (1-3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB) made his presence felt in his first game of the season with Danville. The right-handed slugger mashed a 405-foot bomb to left for a solo home run - his fourth of the season and first with the D-Braves - to give the road team an early 1-0 edge.
After the first two men were retired, Danville added two more in the third. 3B CJ Alexander (2-4, R, 2B) laced a double and scored on a two-bagger by 1B Brendan Venter (1-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB). A passed ball allowed the Auburn alum to cross the plate as well, as the Braves snagged a three-run advantage.
In the fifth, CF Justin Dean (1-4, 2 R, 3B, BB, SO) led off the inning with a triple and proceeded to score on a sacrifice fly to center by SS A.J. Graffanino (1-3, 2 RBI, SO).
Greeneville finally got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the sixth. After a CF Brian Rey (1-3, R) single and a walk to LF Zeek White (0-3, R, 2 BB) a fielder's choice put runners at the corners. 3B
Danville answered with single runs in the seventh and eighth. Dean would walk, steal second, move to third on a passed ball, and score on another Graffanino sac fly in the seventh, while a C Rusber Estrada (2-4, 2B, RBI) double brought home another tally in the eight, making it a 6-1 Braves' lead.
The Reds rallied in the ninth but fell a couple runs short. Willems scalded a run-scoring double down the left-field line and 2B Cash Case (2-5, RBI, SO) followed with a looping RBI single to left. However, RHP Zach Seipel (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 SO) struck out RF Reniel Ozuna (1-4, BB, 2 SO) swinging to end the game with the tying run on-deck.
RHP Keith Weisenberg (6.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) was nearly untouchable for Danville, hurling six innings of one-run, three-hit ball to earn his first victory of the season. His counterpart - RHP Miguel Medrano (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO) - was taxed for four runs (three earned) in five frames, suffering his first defeat of the campaign for the Reds.
Greeneville will look to even up the series on Thursday, as Cincinnati's second-round selection - RHP Lyon Richardson (0-0, 18.00 ERA) - is expected to make the start for the Redlegs. Danville is expected to counter with LHP Dilmer Mejia (0-2, 2.65 ERA).
The G-Reds Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:45 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:00 p.m. ET start at Pioneer Park. Thursday night's contest can be heard on GreenevilleReds.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps.
It will be a Coors Light Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark tomorrow evening, as fans can enjoy $1, $2, and $3 draft beer specials throughout the contest.
Season and single-game tickets are still available and can be purchased online at GreenevilleReds.com or by calling the Reds' Ticket Office at (423) 609-7400.