W: Chris Pike (1-0)
L: Bunk Coronado (1-3)
S: Trey Gill (1)

 

Jake Roberts knocked a home run in his third straight game to lift to the Turks to a 6-4 comeback win over the Luray Wranglers on Tuesday night.

Mike Kraft (2-0) started the game and recorded seven strikeouts, but he received his second straight no decision after giving up four runs– all earned– in 5 2/3 innings pitched. By the end of the sixth inning, Luray (11-10) held a 4-1 advantage that felt like it might hold up through the end of the contest.

Jake Roberts and Ryan Lee seemed to feel otherwise.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, center fielder Ryan Lee tripled deep into right field and picked up two RBI, bringing the Turks (15-7) within one run. Luray opted to relieve starter Luke Drayer (6K, 3BB) with Coronado, but he walked Thomas Smith before giving up Roberts’ fourth home run of the season. Harrisonburg’s 5-run seventh inning suddenly gave them a 6-4 lead that they would not relinquish.

For Luray, it was a case of what could have been. They left nine runners on base and seemed in control for the majority of the game. Instead of putting some space between themselves and the rest of the VBL North , Coronado ends up with a loss and a 1-3 record.

Jake Roberts finished 2/4 with 3RBI; Ryan Lee finished a similar 2/3 with 3 RBI and a walk. Left fielder Roche Woodard led the Wranglers at the plate, finishing 2/3 with 3RBI.

After the events of Monday’s make-up games and Tuesday’s regularly scheduled competitions, Harrisonburg holds a slight 1/2 game lead over the Waynesboro Generals in the south. They travel to Covington Wednesday evening, but will return to Veterans Memorial Field for games Thursday and Friday.