Staunton drops Generals again

The final visit to Fishburne Military School Park at Kate Collins field by Staunton had the same result as all the prior, a loss by the Generals — this time a 4-1 defeat in eight innings due to weather.

Tyler Almond has had his ups and downs this season.

Entering the game with a 5.57 ERA, a few runs against the Generals was inevitable.

The Braves struck against Almond every other inning starting in the second.

Waynesboro picked up two quick outs against Staunton before two crucial hits put the first runs on the board.

The damage came from Anthony Porter and Chris Duffy, the bottom of the lineup, not the powerful top of the order that the Braves are known for.

Porter smacked an RBI double down the right field line and Duffy singled in a run with a bloop into left.

The fifth was a hit parade of classic variety for the Braves.

A Will Owens double and Chris Clinton triple led off the inning.

Singles by Blake McDade and Todd Brazeal sandwiched a Donovan Huffer groundout, while two more blue jersey and white pant combos tapped home plate.

Almond pitched well in the third before getting chased in the fourth, striking out the side.

Staunton pitcher Aaron Swenson, second in the league with a 1.86 ERA, made sure that four runs would be enough.

The only Generals hit of the first half of the game came in the first inning off the bat of Alex McClure.

Swenson went three up and three down for the next four innings until the sixth.

The Generals had a chance to rally down four runs with the bottom of the order due up in the sixth.

Ryan Adams was drilled with a 1-0 pitch to put on the first runner since the second, when Adams walked.

Mark Dvoroznak laced an infield single that ricocheted off the glove off Swenson and to the second baseman, but the slow dribbler did not allow Anthony Mesa time to get the speedster Dvoroznak at first.

Brooks Cullen stepped in with two on and no one out.

Trying to lay down a bunt with one strike, Cullen popped the ball up to Porter, but after taking off his catcher’s mask, Porter couldn’t pull in the ball with it safely bouncing off his glove, giving Cullen a second chance.

Cullen lined out to center before McClure picked up his second hit to put ducks on the pond for Rob Kral.

Kral lined out to Huffer at shortstop and Tony Caldwell struck out to preserve the shutout after loading the bases with one out.

Waynesboro picked up an unearned run in the seventh inning just before the weather started thanks in large part to a John Dishon fielding error in left on a fly ball from pinch hitter Jose Rodriguez that scored Kovanda from second.