E-Twins knock off BriSox, 7-2

By Wes Holtsclaw
STAR CORRESPONDENT

   BRISTOL, VA. - The Elizabethton Twins were looking for pay back, and Danny Matienzo was their hit man.
   After a 6-5 loss against the Bristol White Sox on Monday, the Twins withheld a slow start and devoured the BriSox 7-2 at Boyce Cox Field on Tuesday night.
   "They are a good club," said Twins skipper Ray Smith, "They've got some boppers and we left a lot on last night. Tonight was a different story. It was a good win, and if we can hand the ball of to the pen, then we'll be in good shape."
   The Twins were hit hard early, in the form of pitcher Justin Dowdy.
   In the first inning, Dowdy struck out the first two batters that Elizabethton sent up, and the Bri-Sox offense was primed and ready to capitalize.
   Bo Ivy stepped up first with a quick single up the gap, and was scored when Andy Gonzalez doubled into right centerfield, giving the Sox a 1-0 lead over Elizabethton.
   That was all Ricky Barrett would allow, as he struck out the next two batters, bringing the Twins back up for more action.
   However, the Twins were hitless again, with Danny Matienzo gaining the first bag on a walk. The Bri-Sox didn't fare much better, as Barrett struck out two more batters with a defensive back-up to shut down the side.
   Trent Oeltjen got a single for the Twins in the third inning; but was caught stealing to end that frame for Elizabethton.
   Defense prevailed in the bottom of the inning for the Twins, with good pitching and two straight putouts from Sam Taylor to Dusty Gomon for the cause.
   As the Twins ignited on defense, they received a big boost of Pyro on offense.
   With a Doug Deeds single to right field and two down, Danny Matienzo stepped up and delivered a deafening two run shot to deep right, giving the 'Betsy Bombers' a 2-1 lead.
   The White Sox pounded right back with two singles from Darren Ciraco and Seth Morris, but they were incapable of scoring as Twin defense stalled the boys.
   The Twins powered back in the fifth inning with a double from Edgardo LeBron and a single from Sam Taylor, setting up a Peter Martinez RBI double, giving Elizabethton the 3-1 advantage.
   The Bri-Sox caught on with a Tim Huson single and a Bo Ivy walk, but Dusty Gomon was there with a one man double play, setting down the Sox.
   Elizabethton kept their scoring going with Dusty Gomon and Danny Matienzo claiming bases early. Scott Whitrock stepped up with an RBI double, rounding to third as Matienzo was thrown out at the plate.
   The Twins escaped with another run, building their lead to 4-1 as Bristol's chances started slipping away. Andy Gonzalez and Seth Morris had well rounded hits for the Sox; however, a move on the mound from Elizabethton took the wind out of Bristol's sails.
   Elizabethton took advantage of Bristol defense in the seventh inning, rotating through three different pitchers in their frame.
   Trent Oeltjen started things off with a triple, setting up an balked play to the pitcher from Peter Martinez, scoring Oeltjen.
   Doug Deeds and Matienzo got on base for the Twins, but infield bloopers stalled them from adding weight to the package, holding the lead at 5-1.
   Bristol had seen enough and wanted results, their results came up short but they added another run in the seventh.
   After loading the bases with Mark Ford, Pedro Lopez and Andy Gonzalez, Darren Ciraco bounced in an RBI single, pulling the score in at 5-2.
   Neither team got going in the eighth inning, but Elizabethton rocked in the ninth.
   Peter Martinez and Doug Deeds got on with two singles, when Danny Matienzo stepped up again with a two RBI single, giving the Twins a 7-2 advantage.
   "I felt good up there," said Matienzo, who went three of four with three hits, four ribbies and a run.
   "I only get to play every other day since we rotate, so I've got to make the best of it. Especially coming from college ball, the wooden bats are different than the aluminum. I've done a good job in the last few games, I just have to keep it up."
   Two successful innings from Pat Neshek earned him a save in the contest, as the Twin defense held the Bri-Sox, taking the win at 7-2.
   Elizabethton moves to a division leading 23-17, while Bristol takes a dip at 22-18. The teams close the three game series tomorrow night at Bristol, game time is at 7 p.m.