Published: July 23, 2008 11:16 pm            

Nature’s own

Sexton leads O’s to victory

BLUEFIELD — Tyler Sexton must have a deal with Mother Nature.

The Bluefield southpaw allowed three hits through six innings, and Rodolfo Cardona collected a two-run double, leading the Orioles to a 4-1 Appalachian League win over the Danville Braves on a rainy Wednesday night at Bowen Field.

Sexton had done this before. The Western Carolina product tossed a two-hitter in a rain-shortened five-inning 4-0 win over Greeneville on July 6. His teammates remembered.

“That’s what everybody was saying,” Sexton said.

On this night, the Orioles led 2-0 in the sixth when the rain started to fall. However, unlike earlier this month, the rain stopped in time to restart the game after a 33-minute delay. Sexton still picked up the win, while T.R. Keating picked up his second save. That duo combined to scatter six hits, strike out nine and walk just two.

“Both guys pitched outstanding. They were in command, they were working both sides of the plate, they threw strikes and they went after hitters,” Bluefield manager Orlando Gomez said. “That was very nice to see something like that.

“They don’t hesitate to go after the hitters, and when you see that out of pitchers you get excited. That was an outstanding performance.”

While Sexton allowed two hits and three walks while striking out seven in six innings, Cardona led the Bluefield offense with a single, double, walk, one run scored and two runs batted in.

“Cardona came through with the bat, he got some clutch hits, he got a big double for two RBIs,” said Gomez, whose Orioles made just one error. “He’s playing well, he’s got a good swing, but he just has to stay within himself.

“The key to tonight is we played well defensively and the pitching was outstanding.”

Bluefield (14-21) got on the board in the fourth on singles by Elvin Polanco and Jason Rook. Cardona followed with a double into the left field corner. It was still 2-0 when the rain started falling in the top of the sixth. Sexton was able to retire the Braves before the tarp was put on the field.

“When the rain started coming down in the sixth inning, that’s what I was thinking about,” Sexton said. “I figured they were going to be close to pulling the teams off the field.

“It wasn’t lightning out there, but the rain was coming down pretty hard. I wasn’t necessarily rushing to get the inning over, but I was hoping I could make a pitch where they would swing the bat and make outs.”

During the 33-minute delay, Gomez let the players find their own means of relaxation, but made sure they were ready when the game resumed.

“Everybody has a different philosophy, but usually I leave it alone,” Gomez said. “They came in here and were watching the game, some of them played cards, and some of them played ping-pong and they relaxed

“I let them know what time they are supposed to be outside to get loose and be ready to play again.”

Danville (20-16), which remained 2 1⁄2 games behind Pulaski in the East Division, narrowed a two-run deficit to one when Will White doubled, moved to third on a ground ball and came home on an infield single by Shayne Moody.

However, Bluefield answered with two runs in their half of the seventh. Cardona walked and scored on a triple to the right field corner by Brian Conley. Conley then crossed the plate when Danville second baseman Joel Campusano dropped an infield pop-up off the bat of Ronnie Welty.

Rook and Welty joined Cardona in reaching base multiple times. Rook singled and walked, while Welty doubled and reached on an error.

Sexton improved to 2-3, while T.R. Keating pitched the final three innings for Bluefield, allowing one run and striking out two for his second save.

Sexton’s performance was an improvement over his last start against Greeneville.

“I think it’s all about execution,” said Sexton, who allowed four runs in six innings in a loss to the Astros. “Getting ahead of guys makes it a lot easier than being behind, but tonight I was fortunately ahead instead of behind.

“Against Greeneville in my last start I was behind a lot and got beat up, and that’s what happens.”

Both teams finished with six hits. Jon Gilmore led the Braves with two singles, while Moody and Ray Redden singled and walked. White doubled and was hit by a pitch. Randall Delgado dropped to 1-5 on the season despite an ERA of 2.97

The Braves arrived in Bluefield one night after Danville pitchers David Francis and Matthew Small combined on a no-hitter in a seven-inning 1-0 win over Pulaski.

Bluefield, which is 10-10 this season at Bowen Field, will host Danville tonight in what is Community Night in the Bluefields starting at 7 p.m.

“Not only is it always good to beat Danville, but it’s always good to beat anybody,” said Gomez, whose Orioles had lost two straight to last place Burlington. “It’s nice to win this game, especially after we lost two tough games against Burlington.

“To come back and beat a team like Danville. It is a nice win.”

— Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com



At Bowen Field

Danville………........................000 000 100 — 1 6 1

Bluefield……..........................000 200 20x — 4 6 1

Randall Delgado, Clayton McMillan (5), Steven Kent (8) and Ray Redden. Tyler Sexton, T.R. Keating (7) and Luis Bernardo. W — Tyler Sexton (2-3); L — Randall Delgado (1-5); S — T.R. Keating (2). HR — none. Att — 709.

        

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