Royals Split Twinbill With Mets

KINGSPORT, TENN.- The Burlington Royals opened their four-game, three-day series at the Kingsport Mets with a doubleheader split at Hunter Wright Stadium on Thursday. Burlington took game one 5-1, but was defeated in the nightcap 8-7.
GAME ONE
Burlington (15-20 at night's end) struck first in the third inning. 1B Benji Cash hit a one-out double, and took third on a wild pitch. He would come across on 2B Jose Marquez 's RBI single.
The Royals extended their lead with two runs in both the fourth and fifth inning. In the fourth, 3B Dennicher Carrasco and SS Jeison Guzman hit back-to-back singles, and an error on Guzman's hit put both runners in scoring position. C Sebastian Rivero recorded the Royals' third straight hit, scoring Carrasco and advancing Guzman to third. Guzman would score the inning's second run on a passed ball, and the Royals led 3-0.
In the fifth, DH Michael Gigliotti drew a leadoff walk, went to third on an error, and scored on an RBI triple from CF Cal Jones . Jones scored the Royals' final run of the game on an RBI groundout by LF Reed Rohlman .
Kingsport (14-20 at night's end) scored their lone run in the sixth. SS Hansel Moreno singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI double from 3B Rigoberto Terrazas .
Royals RHP Nathan Webb twirled a complete-game victory. He scattered five hits over his seven innings, and did not walk a batter. He struck out four while earning the win.
Offensively, the Royals achieved a bizarre feat - all nine starters finished with exactly one hit.
GAME TWO
C Juan Uriarte gave Kingsport the early lead with a three-run homer in the first. The Royals surged in front with a four-run third. C Nick Hutchins led off with a double, and 1B Ryan Dale followed with a walk. After an out, SS Oliver Nunez reached on an error that scored Hutchins. After another out, LF Reed Rohlman drew a walk to load the bases. Dale scored the Royals' second run on a wild pitch. Nunez and Rohlman would each come home on a two-RBI single from 3B Dennicher Carrasco.
The Mets quickly tied the game in the bottom of the third when DH Victor Moscote doubled home 1B Gavin Garay .
An inning later, 3B Rigoberto Terrazas gave Kingsport the lead with a two-run homer that also scored 2B Angel Manzanarez . Two more Mets runs scored in the fifth. CF Anthony Dirocie walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Moscote. Moscote would touch home himself on a Manzanarez triple.
Burlington cut into the lead in the sixth with a two-RBI double from Hutchins that scored Carrasco, who had walked, and 2B Jose Marquez, who had singled.
In the seventh and final inning, the Royals put themselves in position to stage a comeback. Rohlman hit a one-out double, and cut the lead to one when he scored on a Marquez triple. However, a groundout ended the game and gave Kingsport the win.
Marquez, Hutchins, and RF Seuly Matias had two hits each in the loss.
The series continues Friday at 6:30 p.m. Royals LHP Daniel Tillo (0-0, 6.00) faces Mets RHP Ezequiel Zabaleta (1-1, 5.97). The game can be heard at www.kmets.com.
Burlington returns home on Sunday, July 30 to face the Greeneville Astros at 6:00 p.m. It will be Halloween in July! Come dressed in your favorite costume and enjoy trick-or-treating at the park! For tickets, call (336) 222-0223 or visit www.burlingtonroyals.com.
Game One: Burlington 5, Kingsport 1
WP: Nathan Webb (3-3)
LP: Carlos Hernandez (2-2)
Box Score
Game Two: Kingsport 8, Burlington 7
WP: Marbin Montijo (1-1)
LP: Michael Messier (1-5)
SV: Mac Lozer (1)
HR: KNG- Juan Uriarte (4), Rigoberto Terrazas (2)
Box Score