They just completed the sweep of Pulaski!
From a DBraves press release…
The Braves scored in each of the last five innings Thursday night to finish off a season-opening sweep at Pulaski with a 12-3 win. Centerfielder and leadoff man L.V. Ware finished with five hits, including two triples, and Adam Milligan chimed in with five RBI to lead the offensive attack. Danville also got strong pitching once again from starter Luis Avilan and the bullpen to close out the game.
The Braves scored their first couple of runs innocently enough, using both of Ware’s triples to do the damage. He led off the game with a triple before scoring on an RBI groundout by Milligan. In the third, Kreke walked and scored when Ware sent his second triple to center. The Mariners knotted the game in the third on an RBI double and an RBI groundout off Avilan.
For the third straight time in the sweep, the Braves broke the game open in the middle innings. The Braves used two errors, a bunt single by Ware, and a walk to load the bases to open the fifth. After M’s starter Jean Tome was lifted, Milligan roped a two-run single to make it 4-2. Robert Hefflinger followed with a three-run shot to put the dagger in the Mariners’ night.
The Braves added two more in the sixth when Ware singled and Milligan hit him home on a two-run blast to make it 9-2. In the seventh, it was Kuyaunnis Miles, making his first start of the season, who joined the long ball party with a solo shot. The Mariners added a run in the bottom half on an RBI double by Jharmidy De Jesus.
In the eighth, the Braves loaded the bases, allowing Hefflinger to ground into an RBI fielder’s choice, and in the ninth, it was Tyler Barnett’s RBI groundout that scored the final run of the game.
Cory Rasmus (1-0) earned the win with 3.2 innings of solid relief, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Avilan worked four innings and allowed two runs on three hits while walking three and striking out two. Derick Himpsl worked a scoreless inning, rebounding from a tough night on Wednesday, and Cody Railsback recorded the final out of the game for Danville. Tome (0-1) took the loss for Pulaski, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits in four innings. He struck out nine Braves.
Ware led the offensive show, going 5-6 with two triples, a run, and a stolen base. Milligan tacked on five RBI to give him seven for the season as he continued his torrid stretch of play to start the year. He has nine hits in his first 15 at-bats, including four extra-base hits. Hefflinger drove in four runs as the cleanup hitter and had two hits. Miles and Ryohei Shimabukuro each finished with two hits, as well.
The Braves now head to Tennessee for a three-game set with the Greeneville Astros beginning at 7 p.m. tomorrow night. The Braves’ home opener is on tap for June 29 with a 7 p.m. first pitch against the Kingsport Mets. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Danville Braves magnet schedule on opening night. The first homestand also features a post-game fireworks show on July 3. For other information on the schedule, tickets, group nights, and/or partnership opportunities please contact the Danville Braves office at (434) 797-3792, info@dbraves.com, or log on to www.dbraves.com.
Go Braves!