Braves Throw Two-Hit Shutout in Series Finale Against Pulaski

DANVILLE, Va. - One night after giving up five home runs to the Pulaski Yankees, the Danville Braves closed out the three-game series on a high note, yielding just two hits in a 4-0 victory on Friday night.
The D-Braves took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and ultimately surrendered the fewest hits allowed all season, ending Pulaski's eight-game win streak in convincing fashion. Connor Blair's three-run home run in the third inning was the team's tenth at home this season, already one more than the D-Braves produced at Legion Field all of last season.
The first inning set the tone on a night with 23 combined strikeouts, as Danville starter Tyler Owens struck out two in retiring the side before Pulaski starter Leonardo Pestana did the same. Owens, making his second start with the D-Braves, struck out two more in the second inning. Danville got a leadoff baserunner with Bryce Ball getting hit by a pitch and advanced him to second on a Brandon Chapman single, but Pestana also struck out two more batters and avoided any damage.
After Owens again retired the side in the top of the third, Cody Miligan drew a one-out walk and stole second base in the bottom of the frame. Brandon Parker followed up with a single and steal of his own to give Blair runners on second and third. With a 2-2 count, Blair mashed his first career home run to left field to give Danville a 3-0 lead.
Pulaski looked ready to erase it all in the fourth inning, with two walks and a hit by pitch loading the bases with no outs. Filyer Sanchez came on in relief for the D-Braves and got three outs without allowing any runs to escape the jam and maintain the no-hitter and shutout.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Juan Morales reached first on a one-out single and Jose Palma advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt, placing him in position to score on a Cody Milligan RBI single to make it 4-0.
Nobody else would record a hit until the seventh inning, when Pulaski finally broke the no-hitter up with a one-out single from Nelson B Alvarez. Danville pitcher Tanner Gordon stranded the runner on second with a force out at second and a strikeout.
Anthony Volpe hit a two-out single for Pulaski in the eighth but was stranded when Alex Camacho struck out Ryder Green at the plate. Camacho struck out two and retired the side in the top of the ninth to finish the shutout.
Next up for Danville is a three-game series in Johnson City beginning on Saturday.