The Difference a Letter Can Make

Most of the time, I follow a fairly strict schedule, especially with this being my first year in the minor leagues. I normally show up to the Stadium at 4 and leave around 10:30 or 11. But because of today’s 11 a.m. start, I am at the ballpark around 8:30. And it is amazing how different today feels. I am so used to the field when it is 9 p.m. that 9 a.m. seems so wrong.

Still, I love afternoon games, and this will be an afternoon game once we get an hour deep into it. Here is a breakfast-style edition of the Bullets.

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BURLINGTON BULLETS:

• You read it here yesterday. Skipper Nelson Liriano wanted to see more out of his lineup, and the fifth inning was just what the doctor ordered. Three straight two-out RBI base hits helped the Royals pull away and eventually hold on for the victory. “That’s big,” Liriano said. “Good teams can do a lot of good stuff, and we showed that last night.”
• The five-run fifth is tied for the second biggest inning of the season offensively. Burlington scored eight in the ninth inning July 1 at Bluefield.
• “It was definitely big,” said Alex McClure, who had the middle of the three hits — a two-run double to center. “I think it really opened the game up, and I think we held on strong from there. That was probably the deciding factor in the game.”
• Speaking of McClure, he is 4-for-11 since his switch from the bottom portion of the order to the second spot. Luis Piterson is 3-for-11 in the leadoff spot over the last three games. Alex Llanos, on the other hand, has struggled a bit down in the sixth slot, posting a 1-for-10 trio of games, after starting the season in the leadoff spot.
• Back on July 11, Jonathan Dooley was just 0–3 with an ERA of 10.13. With last night’s five innings under his belt, Dooley is now 3–4 and has trimmed his ERA more than half, down to 4.70.
• Since his signing earlier this month, JJ Leaper has been fantastic for Burlington in the bullpen. The righty has worked 8 innings and has only surrendered one unearned run. Last night, Leaper notched his first save and stranded three big runners to get there.
• This is Burlington’s only morning game. The Royals’ earliest game other than this one is 4 p.m. on a few occasions, most recently July 18 at Princeton.
• There are plenty of groups in attendance at this morning’s game, including the Boys & Girls Club, Beginner’s Vision, and the YMCA. In total, more than 400 people with special groups with be in attendance this morning.

Our pre-game coverage begins at 10:45 a.m. with the Pre-Game Show brought to you by Best Western. Enjoy breakfast with the Royals!

- Brian