The Elizabethton Twins will face the Burlington Royals tonight for the Appalachian League Championship.
After losing game one, 3-2 in twelve innings at Burlington, the Twins came back with a 4-3 eleven inning win last night. Hein Robb started and allowed three runs in four innings. Down 3-1 in the sixth, Max Kepler hit a two run home run to tie the game. Kepler was 3-5 with two runs scored and two driven in.
The Twins bullpen could not have been better. Tyler Duffy, Kaleb Merck and J. T. Chargois combined to pitch seven no-hit innings with one walk and twelve strikeouts. Duffy and Merck both pitched two innings with Chargois pitching three for the win. With no tomorrow, I expect all three will be available tonight, if needed.
D. J. Hicks led off the bottom of the eleventh inning with a single to right field. When he made a wide turn at first base, the second baseman threw to first. The throw hit his elbow and went into the dugout, sending Hicks to third base. Kelvin Mention pinch ran and on the first pitch to Travis Harrison, the pitch went to the backstop with Mention scoring the game winning run.
The Twins will face Burlington tonight with the winner being crowned the Appy League champs. If it is the Twins, it will be their fifth championship in ten years. The Twins will send Jose Berrios to the mound. Can he repeat his opening night start against Danville last Wednesday, when he pitched six scoreless innings with one hit and seven strikeouts? I expect the Twins feel very good giving the ball to a young man who is rapidly becomming their top pitching prospect.