Danville Slips Past Mariners

The Danville Braves (12-7) got the better of Pulaski's (10-10) relievers to win 4-2 on Military Appreciation Night. Danville batters hung two runs on the scoreboard in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Pat Peterson (0-1, 1.29 ERA) took the mound for the Mariners. Peterson pitched five strong innings of two-hit ball, and kept the Braves from scoring a run. This start was a vast improvement over his last start where Peterson lasted only one inning.

The lefty commanded all the pitches in his arsenal, and utilized a deadly, slow-breaking curveball to strike out six batters.

"Pat was much more efficient this time" said manager Rob Mummau. "He trusted his fastball, and had all three of his pitches working."

The Mariners' offense battled Danville starter Andry Ubiera (2-0, 2.37 ERA) in the early innings. Patient Pulaski bats worked deep counts, and forced Ubiera to hurl a high number of pitches-Ubiera had 71 pitches through four innings.

The pressure finally materialized into offense in the third inning. Gianfranco Wawoe walked on a full count to reach first with one out. Later in the frame, Jay Baum threaded a bouncing single past short into left field which scored Wawoe from second base.

Pulaski struck again in the next inning. With two outs, Estarlyn Morales scorched a ball into right field for a wall-ball single. Following a Morales steal of second Yordi Calderon tagged an Ubiera delivery off the right field wall for double which easily scored Morales.

Danville manager Randy Ingle went to his bullpen in the fifth inning to impressive results. The quartet of Kyle Kinman, Luis Miranda, Michael Flores, and Matt Kimbrell combined to limit the Mariners to one hit over five innings.

The Mariner bats lost their will to battle with the Braves pen-they no longer went deep into counts with the same devotion they had earlier in the contest.

The Braves wasted no time to strike following the departure of Peterson. Daniel Thieben (1-0, 4.35 ERA) entered the game in the sixth inning and struggled. In one inning of work the German surrendered two runs, although one was unearned. Thieben continued his recent struggle with control, and he walked one batter and hit another in the sixth.

"I think Thieben's confidence is a little shaky right now" said Mummau. "It's all a matter of believing in himself again."

Ugueth Urbina (0-2, 7.45 ERA) could not stem the tide in the seventh inning. Following a quick fly out by Alejandro Piloto, Urbina served up a one-run home run to Fernelys Sanchez. Sanchez's bomb to deep right-center would prove to be the deciding run.

Urbina allowed another run in the seventh inning, and took the loss for the Mariners. He yielded to Peter Miller with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh.

Showing great poise, Miller (0-1, 1.35 ERA) induced a ground out to end the seventh inning without any more damage.

Miller finished up the game for Mummau. Only one Danville batter reached base while Miller was on the mound. Wednesday represented Miller's sixth consecutive appearance without yielding a run.

"I came in looking to get my boy Urbina out of a jam" Miller said. "In the bullpen we count on each other to get us out of jams."

Pulaski and Danville contest the second game of the three game series Thursday night at 7pm.