Using the one-two punch of Colton Burns and Andrew Cosgrave, the Elizabethton Twins topped the Burlington Royals, 6-1, during Tuesday’s season opener at Joe O’Brien Field.
Burns (1-of-2, 3 runs) and Cosgrove (2-of-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, HR) worked the seventh and eighth slots of the Twins’ line up and were an integral part of Elizabethton’s run production.
“He (Burns) is my roommate, and we were talking before the game, and he was like, ‘Man, we are batting back-to-back, we have to be that one-two punch,'” said Cosgrove. “We were having fun with it. It was a great night out here for opening night.”
Burns and Cosgrove wrapped up the Twins scoring Tuesday when Cosgrove hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to net himself and Burns who had reached on a double.
“Burns had done a great job of hitting a double to lead off the inning there,” said Cosgrove. “I was thinking man I really want that first-pitch fastball. I ended up getting it and got a good swing on it.”
After a scoreless first two innings, the Royals found home plate in the third as Burlington’s Angel Medina scored Isaiah Henry with a line drive single. In the same play, Royals Jeison Guzman was tagged out at home as Elizabethton first baseman Chris Williams fired the ball home to E-Town catcher Cosgrove who applied the tag to keep Burlington (0-1) from going up 2-0.
Elizabethton (1-0) found the scoreboard in the fifth as Twins Lean Marrero hit an RBI double to score Burns for the tying run. The go-ahead run came from Cosgrove as he crossed home during a groundout by teammate Jared Atkins, giving Elizabethton a 2-1 lead heading into the sixth.
The Twins posted two more runs in the seventh as Montesino singled to left field to score Burns. Atkins later came home during a walk from Elizabethton’s Chris Williams.
Cosgrove’s two-run homer gave Elizabethton its final 6-1 tally in the eighth.
Elizabethton pitcher Pedro Garcia (7 K, 5 BB, 2H, 1 R) got the start and picked up the win as he tossed five innings. Twins pitcher Moises Gomez (4K, 1H) came in as relief and threw three innings before E-Town’s Ricky Ramirez (1K) finished with one inning of work.
Burlington pitcher Charlie Neuweiler was given the loss.
Elizabethton and Burlington continued their three-game series Wednesday night at Joe O’Brien. For the results of that game, pick up Friday’s Elizabethton Star or visit us online at www.elizabethton.com.