Jays outlast Braves 8-6 in slugfest

BLUEFIELD, WV - Two big innings for the Bluefield Blue Jays keyed an 8-6 series-opening win over the Danville Braves on Sunday at Bowen Field. Dwight Smith drove in three runs and Alex Azor notched a game-high three hits for the Baby Jays, who are now winners of three out of four and five out of their last seven games.

Bluefield surged to a quick 3-0 lead against starter Mauricio Cabrera. Azor led off with a single and Christian Lopes and Dwight Smith Jr. hit back-to-back singles, the latter of which plated Azor with the first run of the contest. Santiago Nessy bounced into a double play to send Lopes home and Art Charles followed with a solo homer, his sixth of the season.

Roberto Osuna breezed through three shutout innings, but he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in the fourth, his final inning of work. With Danville back in the game, the Braves rallied in the fifth to take the lead against Justin James (W, 1-0). A bunt single and two walks filled the bases and after an RBI groundout, two more runs scored on a throwing error by shortstop Dickie Thon.

The home team trailed 5-4, but not for long. In the bottom of the fifth against Charlie Robertson (L, 0-1), Smith hit a bases-loaded two-run single to snatch the lead again 6-5. Later in the inning with the bases full once more, Thon worked a walk to force in Bluefield's seventh run. The Jays added another tally on Matt Dean's RBI single in the seventh.

Les Williams and Joe Spano both struck out two as they combined to post three shutout innings to get Bluefield from the sixth through the eighth.

Side-winding righty Wil Browning pitched the ninth and struck out the first two batters out swinging. He also whiffed Aris Alcantara, but the third strike was a wild pitch that extended the game. Josh Elander blooped a single to cut the lead to 8-6, but Browning struck out Felix Marte to lock down the win for Bluefield. With four strikeouts in a one-inning save, Browning did something that has only been done three times in the major leagues. Mark Wholers (1995 ATL), Derek Wallace (1996 NYM) and Kaz Sasaki (2003 SEA) have turned the trick in the bigs.

The series continues on Monday night when Kevin Comer (2-1, 4.88) goes for the Jays against Frank Lafreniere (3-1, 3.34) of Danville. First pitch at Bowen Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for all Blue Jays home games are available at the Bowen Field box office, the Tickets page on BluefieldJays.com, and by phone at 304-324-1326.