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MACON, Ga. — The Piedmont Boll Weevils lost a pitcher’s duel Sunday afternoon to the Macon Braves.
That’s OK, though. Hickory also lost one at Columbus, meaning the Weevils’ magic number of 1 turned into the South Atlantic League’s first-half championship.
“It’s real good for the kids, good for their development,” said Weevils manager Greg Legg. “They get to play in the playoffs later on in the year, and that’s what you’re trying to develop — first-division major league players.
“The effort was outstanding. All 25 guys chipped in.”
Piedmont held a seven-game lead over Hickory heading into Sunday, so when Macon’s Matt Belisle earned a commanding 3-2 victory, the Weevils weren’t too worried.
They enjoyed a picnic lunch outside the park, waiting for word on Hickory, then headed back to the hotel, still in the dark. Finally, one of Piedmont’s scouts called Legg Sunday night with word of Hickory’s 3-1 loss.
“I don’t even know if the players know,” Legg said. “They were looking at it more as they still had a job to do.”
Top draft pick Brett Myers went inning-for-inning against the Braves’ top pick, Belisle, who struck out 11 to improve to 8-4.
Myers surrendered a second-inning home run to Pat Manning, but Tom Batson tied the score at 1-all in the third when he singled home Buzz Hannahan.
Nate Espy gave Piedmont the lead in the fourth when he led off with a home run, but Belisle slammed the door after that.
Myers walked No. 9 hitter Louis Martinez to open the sixth inning, then gave up a game-tying single to Jerry Simmons.
Franklin Perez entered in the seventh inning, and Martinez again played the spoiler role. Perez hit the shortstop to open the eighth inning, a bunt moved Martinez to second and another Simmons single up the middle scored the go-ahead run.
“It was a real good game,” Legg said. “It was just a matter of them getting a ground ball base hit up the middle.”
The series continues in Macon tonight and tomorrow.
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