Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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August 31, 2009

Orioles hang on, beat Royals

Staff report

BLUEFIELD — Justin Anderson struck out seven in five scoreless innings and his Bluefield Orioles teammates provided just enough offense to claim a 3-2 win over the Burlington Royals on Monday night as the Appalachian League regular season neared its end.

Anderson gave up singles in the first and third inning and Geulin Beltre belted a double to lead off the second. But the left-hander from Arizona struck out the last four batters he faced.

Kipp Schutz gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the fifth when he singled and reached the plate on a double by Edinho Meyer.

Burlington tied the game 1-1 in the seventh off Bluefield reliever Mike Mechaw, with Jacob Kuebler leading the way. He walked, stole second and scored from there on a Malcom Culver single to left.

A pair of Michaels got the Orioles’ lead back for good in the next inning against Royals reliever Gary Cuevas, whose win-loss record dropped to 0-5.

With two outs in the eighth, Mikey Planeta’s line drive to right sent Javier Santana home with the go-ahead run. Mike Flacco followed with a single that plated Planeta.

Fernando Cruz hit his 11th double of the year to start the ninth inning, and he scored on a fielding error by Santana to cut the Birds’ lead to one. Bluefield closer Sam Taveras struck out Culver and the Orioles ended the game with a forceout at second base.

Bluefield will attempt to close out the books for 2009 with a break-even 34-34 season when they host the Royals this evening at Bowen Field at 7 p.m. The ballpark will hold Orioles Fan Appreciation Night, Coca-Cola Night, Dollar Night and Kraft Singles Night.

*****

At Bowen Field

Burlington......000 000 101 — 2 6 1

Bluefield.........000 010 02x — 3 7 2

Leondy Perez, Gary Cuevas (6) and Travis Jones. Justin Anderson, Mike Mechaw (6), Sam Taveras (9) and Janensis Guerrero. WP – Mechaw (1-0). LP – Cuevas (0-5). HR – none. Att – 805.

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