E-Twins clinch division title

The Elizabethton Twins clinched the Appalachian League West Division title Wednesday with a 6-1 triumph over the Kingsport Mets as David Bromberg won his eighth straight decision.

Bromberg (8-0) surrendered a run on four hits and three walks while fanning five over 5 1/3 innings. He leads the league with eight wins and 70 strikeouts.

After giving up four runs over 2 2/3 innings in his season debut on June 20 against Kingsport, the 19-year-old right-hander has yielded only 10 earned runs over his last 10 appearances (nine starts) to lower his ERA to 2.45.

Spencer Steedley gave up a hit and struck out four in 2 2/3 scoreless innings before Caleb Moore fanned two in a perfect ninth.

Estarlin De Los Santos stroked a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth for the Twins (42-14), who have won four straight. Daniel Lehmann, Matthew Dolenc and Rene Leveret drove a run apiece.

Elizabethton dominated in almost every facet en route to the division crown, leading the league in runs, homers, batting average, on-base percentage and steals. The pitching staff is first in strikeouts and second in ERA.

The Twins opened the season with a seven-game winning streak. They've lost only two of the last 17 contests and are 24-4 at home.

Mets starter Michael Olmstead (0-1) gave up three runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four innings.

Greg Veloz led off the third with his fifth homer of the season for Kingsport (27-26), which has lost three straight.