Righthander Andrew Cabezas pitched six shutout innings on Thursday night at Joe O’Brien Field as the Elizabethton Twins blanked Bluefield 3-0 in Appalachian League action.

Cabezas (1-3), a University of Miami (Fla.) product surrendered just two hits while striking out three and walking two.

“I think the main thing was first-pitch strikes and getting ahead of the hitter right away,” Cabezas said after earning his first win of the season. “It was good to get the first win in this series, especially against a good team like Bluefield. They are a very good club so it’s good to get one up on them.”

Shortstop Ricky DeLaTorre broke a scoreless game open in the third with his fourth home run of the season over the fence in left field with designated hitter Colton Burns on with a walk for a 2-0 Twins lead. The Twins (27-18) were held to just four hits by Blue Jays pitching but two were home runs.

Burns went yard in the fifth with a towering blast that cleared the rightfield fence by a good margin to give Betsy a three-run advantage. For Burns, it was his fourth round-tripper of the season and his second in three games in returning from the injured list.

“I’m working hard to get my body back to where I was,” Burns said. “I’m focused on putting a good swing on the ball and I don’t care where it’s going as long as I hit it hard. I try to get a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it and just work hard every day.”

The Twins infield defense – which has been shaky of late – came through with some stellar defensive plays from third baseman Alex Robles and shortstop DeLaTorre. Elizabethton turned a double play in the sixth and relief pitcher Jacob Blank made a heads-up play to cut down a potential Bluefield run in the eighth.

Jose Theran singled to open the frame against Blank and went to second on a wild pitch. Rafael Lantigua tapped a high bouncer to the right of the mound where Blank fielded the ball and cut Theran down at third with a fine throw to Robles.

Blank pitched two innings giving up no runs on one hit in gaining a hold – his first of the season – and lefthander Zach Neff earned his fifth save with a shutout ninth.

E-Twins 3-0

Bluefield 000 000 000 – 0 4 0

E-Twins 002 010 00x – 3 4 1

W – Cabezas (1-3) L – Pardinho (3-3)