BriSox Edge Burlington for Appy League Victory

BY JOSH FLOYD
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
BRISTOL, Va. – Apparently, the second slot in the respective batting orders from Bristol manager Ryan Newman during the last week is the closest thing to a sure-fire, run-producing occurrence.

Since a 5-4 setback to division rival Johnson City on July 2, the second spot has produced a lofty 8-for-25 (.320 average) combined hitting performance.

So when pinch-hitter Kyle Davis replaced shortstop Jared McDonald – who had already homered and scored twice against visiting Burlington – in the No. 2 spot during the eighth inning of Friday’s tie game, the Ewing, N.J., native didn’t miss a beat.

“Even though we’re on the bench and not starting, we’re always aware that we still have opportunities … so you have to stay in the game,” said Davis, whose go-ahead RBI single scored pinch-runner Dallas Williams for an exciting 8-7 Appalachian League victory at DeVault Stadium.

“You have to stay focused, because if you do get a chance, you can be positive and come up big.”

Despite trailing 6-2 after four innings, the aggressive at-bats put forth from the BriSox (7-11) – who have won four of their last six – continued to wear out an ineffective Burlington pitching staff, which allowed a whopping eight hits through four innings. And after bringing home an unearned run in the fifth, Bristol rallied back with a four-spot in a rather kooky sixth.

Dan Wagner – whose diving ninth-inning grab off the bat of Geulin Beltre netted a 1-2-3 frame and the first save for Kyle Bellamy – had the lone hit in the aforementioned sixth, a long
RBI triple to deep center for a 6-6 deadlock. Additionally, Burlington reliever Jaeson Hudnall surrendered a stolen base, a walk, a hit batsman, a balk, an RBI fielder’s choice from
Wagner and two costly wild pitches – with the second bringing home Wagner for a 7-6 edge.

“It looked like [Hudnall] was challenging a lot of people with fastballs,” said Wagner, who scored twice. “When I hit that pitch to center, I was sitting on a fastball – and I got it.”

Ryan Lee, Brady Shoemaker and Misael Tavarez each collected two hits for the BriSox.

“Even when we got behind, we knew that we were still in it,” Newman said. “We never think we’re out of anything. It was just a good game all-around.”

Luis Del Rosario, who scored off Beltre’s seventh-inning RBI single to tentatively knot the game at 7-7, collected two runs and two hits. Beltre also had two hits, as did teammate Fernando Cruz.

NOTES: The two teams combined to go 10-for-12 in stolen base attempts. … Charles “Trey” Delk (1-2, 3.46 ERA) will get the nod tonight (7 p.m.) at Hunter Wright Stadium as the BriSox travel to Kingsport for a three-game series. … Bristol will play 13 out of its next 16 games away from DeVault Stadium.