Braves catcher extends streak of busted base stealers in 3-0 victory

Daniel Elorriaga-Matra has been tremendous behind the plate this season, having thrown out an Appalachian League-leading 50 percent (9-for-18) of base stealers this year.

Elorriaga-Matra has thrown out six consecutive runners who have attempted to steal, including the first batter of the game in Danville’s 3-0 victory against the Bluefield Orioles on Friday night at Dan Daniel Park. The win allowed the D-Braves (11-7) to take sole possession of first place in the East Division.

“Not only does he receive well, block well, an all-around good catcher, but he keeps you accountable to make the pitches,” D-Braves lefty Chris Masters said after striking out nine and walking none in seven shutout innings to earn the win. “He comes out there when he needs to and really keeps you mentally focused and everything. It’s just been great how he keeps me in check and keeps me focused.”

Elorriaga-Matra’s streak of catching attempted base stealers also includes a perfect throw to second base Thursday night to nab Corey Thomas and end the game, a 2-0 Danville victory against Bluefield (10-8).

“I pretty much know they’re going to be going because they’ve been trying to steal for the past two days now,” Elorriaga-Matra said, before addressing the pitching staff’s recent improved efficiency. “To be honest with you, it has a lot to do with commanding their pitches and hitting their spots. They have confidence in me with whatever I call that they’re going to throw a good pitch and get the guy out.”

The Coral Springs, Fla., native has done a fine job of handling the pitching staff this season, carrying a 2.26 catcher’s ERA into Friday night’s game, the second D-Braves shutout of the season and the second in as many days.

“He takes command behind the plate, which not a lot of guys do nowadays,” said D-Braves lefty Brett Oberholtzer, the winning pitcher Thursday. “He’s got a good feel for the game back there. … He’s a great catcher to have behind the plate, a great leader, and I always said growing up to pitch well you’ve got to have a good catcher because he’s part of what you do.”

Elorriaga-Matra, 20, who stands at 6-0 and 200 pounds and bats and throws right, was a 26th-round selection of the Atlanta Braves in the 2007 amateur draft. The New Jersey native was drafted out of Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and spent the last two seasons with the Gulf Coast League Braves.

He posted a .350 batting average (21-for-60) with 11 runs and 11 RBIs in 17 games with the GCL Braves last season, but missed a lot of time this past spring training with a broken leg and has been struggling at the plate for Danville this year, batting a miniscule .128 (5-for-39) with two runs and three RBIs in 12 games.

“I know he’s concerned about his bat right now but we’re happy to be getting the defense that we’re getting from him and hopefully he’ll keep that in perspective, the importance of his defensive abilities and handling this pitching staff,” D-Braves manager Paul Runge said. “If he can keep everything in perspective, his hitting will come.”

MASTERS ON THE MOUND

Danville pitcher Chris Masters piled up nine strikeouts in seven innings Friday night to set the team’s season high for an individual pitcher this season. He allowed four hits and no walks and faced the minimum through six innings before a pair of base hits in the seventh ended the streak.

“I felt we were in control the entire time. It was a really easy win,” Masters said after picking up his second win of the season (2-2) and lowering his ERA to 1.62. “The defense behind me was solid, I can totally trust them, and with a catcher who no one can steal on who’s putting out everyone, it made the job really easy.”

Brett Oberholtzer set the mark at eight strikeouts the previous night during Danville’s 2-0 victory Thursday.

GRESS LEADS THE WAY

D-Braves second baseman Randy Gress, batting ninth in the lineup, connected for a pair of hits, including a two-run triple in the seventh inning that provided a measure of insurance for Danville in its 3-0 victory against Bluefield on Friday night in Danville.

“Gress was really the star of the game,” Runge said. “That play that Gress made in the eighth inning (smothering a groundball and firing to second for the final out of the inning) was a clutch play because if that ball goes through they’ve got the tying run at the plate. It was a bigger play than a lot of people may have realized.”

Cory Harrilchak also rapped a pair of base hits for Danville and L.V. Ware knocked in the winning run, scoring Gress with a double in the third inning.

OUTTA HERE! AGAIN

Bluefield Orioles outfielder Luis Ramirez was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Jon Bailey for his actions after striking out in the eighth inning Friday night, becoming the fourth person – and first player – ejected from a game at Dan Daniel Park this season.

Bluefield bench coach Jerry Greeley was ejected in the eighth inning of Danville’s 2-0 win Thursday night in Danville. He was the third opposing coach ejected from a game at Dan Daniel Park this season.

ON TAP

Danville LHP Tyler Stovall (0-0, 3.09 ERA) at Burlington RHP Carlos Fortuna (1-1, 3.07 ERA) at 7 p.m. today.