A big fourth inning sank the E-Twins, forcing a deciding game three tonight.
DANVILLE 9, ELIZABETHTON 2 IN ELIZABETHTON
A big fourth inning did in the Twins last night, as Danville evened the series at a game apiece.
Max Kepler hit a solo homer in the first to give Elizabethton the early lead. In the second, Adam Walker singled, took second on a passed ball, went to third on a fly to right, and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0.
Meanwhile, Brett Lee had been perfect through three innings, including striking out the side in the third, and appeared to be cruising. The fourth, though, told a different tale. Lee retired the first batter, but then gave up a single to Ronald Luna. The next batter grounded out, and it appeared no harm would be done. Then, however, back-to-back walks loaded the bases and a Felix Marte single tied the game. Blake Brown singled to put Danville ahead, and another walk re-loaded the bases. Lee was replaced by Chris Mazza, but it didn’t help. Logan Robbins cleared the bases with a double, went to third on an error, and scored on a wild pitch. When the smoke cleared, Danville lead 7-2 and the Twins never threatened to get back into the game.
Danville walked nine batters, but the Twins could not capitalize. They only got five hits, went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position, and stranded ten runners.
There were twenty-four strikeouts in the game. Danville pitchers fanned eleven and Twins pitchers fanned thirteen.
The deciding game will be played tonight in Elizabethton. Hudson Boyd goes for the Twins.
BURLINGTON 4, JOHNSON CITY 2 IN BURLINGTON
The Royals evened their series behind 5.2 scoreless innings of relief pitching.
Terrance Gore broke a 2-2 tie with a home run to lead off the fifth inning. Bubba Starling led off the seventh with a homer to give Burlington an insurance run.
Johnson City did not get a runner past first base after the fourth inning. Daniel Stumpf went 3.2 scoreless innings, striking out four. John Walter struck out three in two shutout innngs.
The deciding game will be played tonight in Burlington.