D-Braves’ Milligan, Harris promoted to Class A Rome prior to Friday’s game

Danville Braves right-handed pitcher Tyrelle Harris and outfielder Adam Milligan were promoted to Class A Rome before the D-Braves’ 3-2 loss to the Princeton Rays on Friday at Dan Daniel Park.

Milligan produced a .439 batting average in 41 at-bats for Danville, the fourth-best mark in the league. He also collected five doubles, a triple, two home runs and 10 RBIs in that span. His 10 RBIs were tied for fourth-most in the Appalachian League, and he was second in the league with 18 hits and five doubles.

He struck out seven times, drew three walks and was kept out of the lineup Thursday night specifically because he was being called up, D-Braves manager Paul Runge said.

Harris racked up a 1.59 ERA and had nine strikeouts and no walks in 5 2/3 innings this season. He allowed one earned run on five hits and collected the save Thursday night when he pitched three scoreless innings in a 5-4 come-from-behind victory against Princeton, at one point hurling 15 strikes in a row. He allowed one hit and struck out four.

“It’s well deserved,” Runge said about the promotions.

Stunned late

Ty Morrison singled on a line drive to center field to score Kyle Spraker with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to lead Princeton past Danville 3-2 before 2,418 fans who were treated to fireworks after the game Friday night at Dan Daniel Park.

Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg cranked his Appalachian League-leading fourth home run in the fourth inning to provide the D-Braves with a 1-0 lead and Cory Harrilchack singled to left to score Travis Adair, who led off the eighth inning with a double, as Danville (6-4) tied the game at 2-2 after Princeton scored twice in the seventh.

Julio Teheran limited the Rays (6-5) to one earned run on eight hits in seven innings on the mound. He struck out five and walked one. Derek Himpsl pitched a scoreless inning in relief before Thomas Berryhill surrendered a run on two walks and a hit in the ninth inning to absorb the loss.

Spanjer-Furstenburg and Jace Whitmer each batted 2-for-4 to lead Danville.

Yes, they’re related

Princeton Rays manager Jared Sandberg is the nephew of former longtime Chicago Cubs second baseman and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, considered one of the best at his position in major league history.

Ryne Sandberg made 10 straight All-Star Game appearances and won nine straight Gold Gloves from 1983 to 1991. He is currently the manager of the Cubs’ Class AA Southern League affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies.

Jered Sandberg played third base for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2001-03. He retired as a player after the 2007 season and immediately began his career as a minor league coach in Tampa’s farm system.

Welcome back, Hodges

Danville right-handed pitcher Casey Hodges, a Rocky Mount native and Franklin County High graduate, made his 2009 home debut in the fifth inning of Thursday’s series-opening 5-4 victory against Princeton. Hodges, who pitched for the D-Braves last season and in Dan Daniel Park multiple times throughout his high school career, earned the win after limiting the Rays to one hit in two innings. He struck out one and walked two. It was his second appearance for Danville this season.

On tap

Danville LHP Brett Oberholtzer (0-0, 2.00 ERA) faces Princeton RHP Wilking Rodriguez (0-1, 4.05 ERA) in the final game of this three-game series at 6 p.m. today at Dan Daniel Park. The D-Braves are looking to win their fourth consecutive series to start the season.

Contact Jason Wolf at or (434) 791-7996.

Princeton 000 000 201 - 3 9 1
Danville 000 100 010 - 2 8 1
W: De La Rosa, J (2-1, 1.29); L: Berryhill (0-1, 2.08); SV: Hill (1)
HR: DAN: Spanjer-Furstenburg (4).