Braves finally get W over Generals

Waynesboro got two runs in the first off Staunton starter Bryan Brown, but the Generals could muster only two more hits the rest of the way as the Braves rolled up a 5-2 win to notch their first win of the season over their Augusta County rivals.

Brown (1-0) went five innings in his first start of the season, giving up three hits and two runs, one earned, while striking out six and walking six. The Staunton bullpen was even sharper, with the trio of Sam Abrams, Logan Dodds and Tyler Smith giving up just one baserunner, an two-out, eighth-inning double to Dykota Spiess, in four innings of work.

The Generals got on the board in the first when Jordan Walton singled to center to plate Matt Petrone, who had walked to lead off the first and then stolen second. Walton scored when Spiess hit an infield single with two outs in the inning, and Staunton third baseman Josh Wenger overthrew first base trying to punch out Spiess.

Staunton tied it in the second on a two-run homer to left-center by Erik Payne and took the lead in the third on a two-out single by Justin Bagbey that scored Brandon Cotten from second.

A Cotten RBI single in the fourth off Waynesboro starter Tim Leather (2-2) made it 4-2 Staunton.

The Braves added an insurance run in the ninth when Arthur Owens singled to center with two outs to score Preston Packrall.

Waynesboro left the bases loaded in the third and left runners on first and second in the fifth.

The win was the first in the season series for Staunton after Waynesboro had won seven straight.

The Generals (19-18) now have just a half-game lead over Staunton (18-18) in the Southern Division.

Waynesboro is idle Monday and will play at home against Front Royal on Tuesday. First pitch is at 7 p.m.
   

Photo of the Game

– To view the entire 2011 season in photos, visit photographer Mark Miller’s Waynesboro Generals gallery online at http://markmillerphotography.zenfolio.com/p533176921.