BriSox Battle Back To Gain Split

BRISTOL, Va. – Talk about extending a rally. Talk about a wild eighth.

Charging back for a 3-3 deadlock against host Bristol before rain suspended play back on July 6, Elizabethton finally followed through on its push 35 days later. Jonathan Waltenbury’s one-out infield RBI single in the seventh was the difference in a 4-3 Appalachian League decision during double-header action Monday at DeVault Stadium.

Bristol, meanwhile, equaled that feat a couple of hours later in the nightcap, generating an uncanny four-run explosion in the eighth for a dramatic 7-6 win.

For the visiting Twins, only six outs separated them from a mini-sweep, especially after mustering home the game-winning run in the opener off Bristol reliever Terry Doyle - who also threw three innings against Elizabethton before the suspension. Doyle gave up a first-pitch double in the seventh to Nathan Hanson before issuing a walk to James Beresford.

Twins’ teammate Dominic De La Osa then laid down a bunt single to load the bases. After Doyle retired designated hitter Nicholas Romero on strikes, Waltenbury smacked a sharp grounder to deep short - a grounder that was cleanly fielded by diving Sox shortstop Andrew Garcia. But Garcia couldn’t make a play at any base, giving the Twins the lead.

“A lot of this game is about momentum and confidence,” said Elizabethton manager Ray Smith, whose team picked up its 12th win in 15 games with the opening victory. “When we resumed this game, we got fired up a little bit - and that really cranked up our confidence level.”

In the nightcap, Waltenbury - who went 5-for-9 in the double-dip - and teammate Alexander Soto cracked first-inning RBI singles, while De La Osa threw in another RBI single during the second for a 3-1 advantage. Later, three straight RBI hits from De La Osa (2-for-4), Romero (2-for-4) and Waltenbury chased Bristol starter Murillo Gouvea, who surrendered six runs and eight hits during four-plus innings.

For the second straight night, however, the Sox socked two solo homers to spark their rally. Jose Vargas, who launched a deep fly Sunday at Kingsport, smacked a leadoff homer in the sixth. Meanwhile, Misael Tavarez (2-for-4) drilled his left-center field bomb to start the fifth.

But the die-hard Bristol fans will remember the memorable eighth, when the hosts batted around for four runs. Vargas and Jordan Kendall started the uprising with consecutive singles, while Kevin Dubler and Orlando Santos followed with walks.

Elizabethton reliever Daniel Berlind quickly entered and proceeded to put out most of the Bristol fire, fanning Kenneth Gilbert and Tavarez for the first two outs. But with the Sox down 6-4, Juan Silverio’s swinging third strike got past Soto. Not only did the passed ball allowed the Bristol second baseman to reach, it also brought home Vargas (2-for-4).

Hancer Vargas then directed Berlind’s next offering into left, scoring both Dubler and Santos for the go-ahead runs.

“We were getting upset, especially after the first game and through the first seven innings of the second game,” Bristol manager Bobby Thigpen said. “It just seemed like we were quitting out there ... but then we picked up the intensity. And all of a sudden, we kept chipping away.”

NOTES: The Sox were without two of their regular starters. First baseman Jorge Castillo (.365, 61 hits, 25 RBIs) and outfielder Justin Greene (.292, 47 hits, 14 RBIs) were promoted to Class-A South Atlantic League representative Kannapolis. The duo left the team Sunday. ... Bristol will play two more double-headers later this week, both against visiting Princeton. ... Garrett Johnson (3-2, 3.66 ERA) will get tonight’s call against the Twins.