Florez throws shutout in rain-shortened finale with Danville

Six days after a rain-shortened game cost Santiago Florez his first win of the year, another rain-shortened game gave him his first career complete game as Florez shut out the Danville Braves 2-0 in the series finale on Wednesday.
The five-inning shutout for Florez marked the first time that a Bristol pitcher recorded a complete game and a shutout since August 23, 2016 when Mike Wallace threw a seven-inning shutout against the Elizabethton Twins. Florez also became just the seventh Bristol pitcher since 1999 to throw a complete-game shutout.
The only runs of the game came across in the top of the third inning when designated hitter Jesus Valdez hit a two-out RBI single before scoring on a fielding error two batters later. Florez escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the third, and allowed only three more base runners over the final two innings. The game was halted in the top of the sixth due to lightning, and after an hour-long rain delay the game was called. The rain-shortened victory gave the Pirates their first series win at Danville since July 2015.
Florez allowed four hits and five walks while striking out three over five innings to earn his first win since August 9, 2018. Center fielder Chase Murray and shortstop Francisco Acuna led the Pirates at the plate, as both finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. Valdez went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while second baseman Josh Bissonette was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.
The Pirates (22-24) moved back into third place in the Appalachian League West Division after the Kingsport Mets lost on Wednesday. Bristol remains 1 1/2 games behind Elizabethton and 3 1/2 games behind Johnson City in the standings after wins by the Twins and Cardinals. With 21 games remaining in the season, the Pirates now need 12 more wins in order to clinch their first winning season since 2008.
The Pirates return to Bristol on Thursday night when they begin a four-game series with the Mets. It will be First Responders Night at Boyce Cox Field, sponsored by AT&T at The Pinnacle, and all first responders will receive free admission with valid ID. First pitch for Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader is scheduled for 6 p.m.