Danville Braves oust Mets in 4-2 victory

Kingsport Mets manager Mike Defelice and hitting instructor Bobby Malek were ejected from the ballgame within a matter of minutes during the seventh inning of the Danville Braves’ 4-2 victory Wednesday at Dan Daniel Park. The victory allowed Danville to win its third consecutive series to start the season, having taken two of three games from the Mets.

Defelice was ejected by home plate umpire L.T. Reeves for arguing batter interference on Danville shortstop Mycal Jones, who got in the way of Kingsport catcher John Freeman’s throw to second base as he attempted to catch L.V. Ware stealing.

Freeman appeared to injure his hand on the throw from making contact with Jones, who continued his at-bat and drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Freeman stayed in the game.

“His arm came through and hit me on the shoulder after my swing,” said Jones, who drew three walks and scored twice in the game, “but I was in the batter’s box so I think the umpire made the right call there.”

Malek was also tossed after he came sprinting out of the dugout to argue with field umpire Ryan Karle after the following at-bat, when Adam Milligan was called safe at first base after apparently being gunned down by Mets shortstop Gered Mochizuki. The play loaded the bases.

Riann Spanjer-Furstenburg, who went 4-for-4 with two RBIs, roped a single to right to score two to give Danville a 3-0 cushion and put runners on the corners. Milligan scored on a wild pitch for a 4-0 lead.

“We caught a couple breaks finally and we were able to break through,” D-Braves manager Paul Runge said. Danville improves its record to 6-3 and Kingsport falls to 2-7.

Self Defense

D-Braves relief pitcher Thomas Berryhill notched his third save in as many attempts when Michael Moras launched a rocket right at his head. The righty, a fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft, defended himself with his glove while falling backward and recovered in time to track down the ball and, while gloveless, tossed it to first base for the force out to end the game.

“It was a little scary,” Berryhill said. “I knew when I didn’t feel it in my glove after it hit my glove, I knew I had to look for it so it didn’t give me much time to think.”

Busting the Shutout

Mets outfielder Cesar Puello cut his team’s deficit in half with a two-run bomb to right in the eighth inning. Jeff Flagg, who Puello drove in with the homer, was hit by a pitch during the previous at-bat. The shot was Puello’s first home run of the season.

Danville’s Robbie Hefflinger went 2-for-4 and knocked in the first run of the game, slapping a single to left field to score Jones from second in the sixth inning.

Ouch!

Kingsport catcher Tyler Howe entered as a pinch hitter for second baseman Ryan Mollica with a runner on first and the D-Braves leading 4-2 in the ninth inning.

Howe, who had been hit by a pitch in all six of his previous appearances this season, struck out swinging for the second out of the inning.

Getting the Job Done

Danville starting pitcher Tyler Stovall allowed no runs on one hit and struck out seven in 4 1-3 innings. He also issued five walks.

Matt Crim picked up his second win of the season by allowing two earned runs on five hits in 3 2-3 innings of relief work.

“I thought our pitching was pretty good tonight except for the walks,” Runge said.

On Tap

Danville LHP Jeffrey Lorick (0-1, 27.00 ERA) faces Princeton LHP Joey Dettrich (0-1, 3.60 ERA) at 7 p.m. at Dan Daniel Park.