Yerina’s Scoreless Innings Streak Reaches 15
By Doug Raftery, Rapids Media Intern
Chances were aplenty for both Staunton and Rockbridge Thursday night, but the runs wouldn’t come for either. That was until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Rapids scored two runs, which was all they would need in their 2-1 victory, their first ever against Staunton.
Ryan Yerina started his second game of the year and was sturdy once again. Yerina, who threw a complete game shutout in his first start of the year against Haymarket, gave the Rapids six gutsy innings, allowing six hits, two walks and no runs. He hasn’t given up a run in his two starts this season, spanning 15 innings, but the Braves certainly had chances in this one.
In the fourth inning, Staunton was the first team to starting working on the offense. Stephen Branca led off the inning with a double, and Steve Scoby followed with a single to make it first and third with no outs. After a force out advanced Scoby to second, Yerina intentionally walked the slow starting, but dangerous Todd Brazeal. But the Braves couldn’t capitalize after Pitching Coach Evan Wise visited the mound, as Yerina got two Braves to pop out to first baseman Danny Weiss. This started a tough night for the Staunton offense, going 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
The Rapids would score all they needed in the bottom of the fifth when Robert Skinner singled and Michael Caddell reached on a pitcher’s error after his bunt. Catcher Dillon Way drove a single to right field for his fourth RBI of the year and the first run of the game, and Kevin Rufus followed with an RBI single of his own.
The Braves would have another scoring opportunity in the sixth, but Yerina squashed a bases loaded opportunity for the second time during the night. Steve Scoby and Patrick Braswell singled consecutively with one out, and Yerina walked Armani Johnson. Justin Bagby came up with the bases loaded and two outs for the second time, but grounded out to third baseman Andrew Barna, who made a fine play in the gap for the out. “I just take a deep breath, I know what I have to do,” Yerina said about the bases loaded jams. “I have to throw strikes and I can’t walk them, those were my main focuses.”
The Braves scored one run on an RBI groundout by Johnson in the top of the eighth, and threatened in the top of the ninth. Andrew Barlett started off the ninth with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. That runner would again go to naught, as Broadwater struck out the next batter, and got a fine defensive play from Danny Weiss, who dove and tagged first base with his glove after an errant throw from third. “That’s what it’s about in the late innings in close games, guys picking each other up,” Weiss said. Yerina improved to 2-0 on the year with another stellar performance, and Broadwater earned his second save. The Rapids look to jump to .500 once again Friday night at Harrisonburg.
