Burlington scores win over Danville in Appy League action Thursday night

Burlington (14–12) entered the bottom of the sixth inning holding a three-run lead. However, the Sock Puppets created a bit of space, scoring a pair of runs in the frame when Carter Bailey (California) scored on an error and Gage Miller (Queens) made it a 7–2 game with his RBI single to center field …

BURLINGTON, N.C. — The Burlington Sock Puppets broke open a tight game late and held over the final frames for a 9–5 win over the Danville Otterbots in Appalachian League action Thursday night.

Burlington (14–12) entered the bottom of the sixth inning holding a three-run lead. However, the Sock Puppets created a bit of space, scoring a pair of runs in the frame when Carter Bailey (California) scored on an error and Gage Miller (Queens) made it a 7–2 game with his RBI single to center field.

It was more Burlington in the bottom of the seventh as it tacked on two more runs. Bailey got the scoring started with his RBI groundout and Tyler Albright (Duke) put the Sock Puppets in front 9–2 with his run-scoring base knock to center.

Danville (15–10) didn’t go away, answering back with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to trim the gap to five. Alex Conover (Cowley CC) got the rally going with his RBI bases-loaded walk and Jacob Smith (Central Alabama CC) made it a 9–4 contest with his RBI groundout.

The Otterbots struck back for another run in the top of the ninth on Michael Callan Moss’ RBI single to left that got the ‘Bots within seven.

It was the Sock Puppets that delivered the first blow, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Joseph DeLanzo (SUNY Stony Brook) got Burlington on the board with his double to left that plated Koby Kropf (South Carolina-Upstate) and Miller doubled down on the lead with his single to left that scored DeLanzo.

The ’Bots answered back with a run in their half of the second on Moss’ RBI sacrifice fly to right that made it a 2–1 game. Burlington made sure Danville didn’t hold the momentum long, striking back for a pair of runs in its half for a three-run lead. Ryan McCrystal (East Carolina) made it a two-run game when he scored on a wild pitch and Miller made it a 4–1 contest with his RBI groundout.

Danville pulled within two in the top of the fifth when Jaxon Goldberg (Central Florida) scored on a wild pitch. Once again, Burlington struck back, making it a 5–2 game on Brody Block’s RBI single to center in its half of the frame.

Aidan Weaver (Duke) got the win on the bump, giving up two runs on a single hit and striking out seven in five innings thrown.

Miller led Burlington with three RBI while Bailey, Albright, DeLanzo and Block drove in a run apiece as well.

Moss paced Danville with two RBI while Conover and Smith drove in a run each.

Danville returns home tomorrow for a contest against Burlington at 7 p.m.