Brandon Murray hit his 12th homer of the season, and the bullpen threw four shutout innings after a strong outing from Seth Lucio as the Waynesboro Generals topped the Staunton Braves, 4-3, Friday night.
The win completes a rare season sweep of Staunton. Waynesboro won all eight games in the series between the Augusta County rivals and has now won 17 of the last 18 in the series.
The Generals also opened up a two-and-a-half-game lead over second-place Harrisonburg in the South Division.
Murray got Waynesboro on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-out RBI single that scored Bradley Noland from third base.
Staunton took a 2-1 lead in the third on a two-run homer by Ryan Stephens.
Waynesboro answered in the bottom of the third when Murray homered to right-center on a two-out, 3-2 pitch from Staunton starter Sam Howard (3-3).
Lucio had to work himself out of trouble all night long, giving up seven hits, walking two and having four errors committed by the Generals infield behind him. But he was at his best when it counted, stranging 10 Braves baserunners in his five innings of work, including getting out of two bases-loaded jams, in the first and the fourth.
Waynesboro closed out the game with a bullpen committee getting the last 12 outs. Relievers Kyle Allen, Joseph Lucas, Jacob Hoyle and Josh Bullock gave up four hits in four scoreless innings and struck out seven Braves.
Waynesboro hosts Covington for a doubleheader Saturday at Mathers Park at Kate Collins Field. The first game will begin at 5 p.m. on Bark in the Park Night, sponsored by the News Virginian and Augusta Regional SPCA, who will bring 20 dogs currently up for adoption to the ballpark to try to find matches with loving Waynesboro-area homes.
Bring your dog to the park for contests between games honoring the biggest canine baseball fan, friendliest dog and best small and best large dogs.
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Chris Graham
