The Danville Braves fell a couple runs short of a perfect homestand Tuesday night, falling to the Johnson City Cardinals, 3-1. The Braves, winners of 12 of their last 14, fell to 43-18, while Johnson City improved to 32-27.
Johnson City tagged Braves starter Tyler Stovall for a pair of runs in the fourth inning that would prove to be the difference. With one out, Jonathan Rodriguez and Edgar Lara singled, but Stovall walked or hit the next three hitters to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
Cardinal pitchers Chris Notti and Zach Russell faced the minimum through six innings, as the Braves managed only two infield hits. Danville finally scored in the seventh as L.V. Ware walked, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. That was all the offense the Braves could muster.
Ware and Mycal Jones each singled with two outs in the ninth, but Cory Harrilchak grounded out to second to end the game. Jones’ single was the Braves’ only hit out of the infield in the game.
Notti (4-1) earned the win, two-hitting the Braves over five innings with no walks and four strikeouts. Stovall (3-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in 3 1/3 innings with six walks and four strikeouts.
Jones was the only Brave with two hits and Ware stole his 22nd base to move into a tie with Burlington’s Jovan Pickett for the league lead.
The Braves go on the road briefly to face the Burlington Royals at 7 p.m. today, sending left-hander Matt Crim (10-0, 2.61 ERA) to the hill against Leondy Perez (1-5, 4.35 ERA). Crim is trying to become the first Appy League pitcher with 11 wins since 1976. The Braves return to Danville to close the home regular season Thursday and Friday nights against Bluefield.
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