Branham Earns First Professional Victory
7/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box Score | Inning by Inning Recap | Emeralds Release
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Former USC Upstate pitcher Matt Branham earned his first professional victory last night for the Eugene Emeralds, the Class-A Short Season affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
Branham entered the game in the top of the second inning with the Emeralds trailing Tri-City Dust Devils, 3-0. Branham retired the side in the second as he recorded a strikeout, followed by a pair of groundouts to third.
After a one-out double by Leonardo Reyes in the top of the third, Branham retired the next two batters he faced via a fly out and a ground out, respectively. The Emeralds scored one run in their half of the third to cut the Dust Devils' lead to 3-1.
Branham retired the first two batters he faced in the fourth as both struck out swinging. He was able to complete his third inning of scoreless baseball after base runner Russell Wilson was hit by a batted ball while trying to advance from first to second.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Emeralds scored three runs to take a 4-3 lead. Branham started the fifth inning the same way he started the fourth, as he struck out the first two batters he faced. After allowing a walk, Branham struck out his sixth batter and final of the evening.
Players Mentioned
