11th Inning Walk-Off Caps Sweep of Cardinals
July 7, 2017 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - With nine innings proving not to be enough, the Greeneville Astros (10-4) prevailed against the Johnson City Cardinals (7-8) with a final score of 6-5. The Astros four run ninth inning put them in place to complete the three game sweep after Cody Bohanek's walk-off single in the eleventh.
Astros starter Hansel Paulino threw a gem of a game, but worried some fans after giving up a leadoff triple to start the game. Quickly settling back in, Paulino struck out the next two Cardinals and forced a fly out to end the threat. Much of that continued for Paulino, racking up strikeouts and retiring the side in order for three of his six innings pitched.
Greeneville would plate the first run of the game in the bottom of the second set up by a Martin Figueroa double to begin the inning. Shortstop Joan Mauricio singled to left field putting runners on the corners with no outs. Following a strike out and a pop out, Chas McCormick took advantage of the situation and smacked an RBI single to left field.
With Paulino still dominating in the fourth inning, Cardinals right fielder Carlos Rodriguez pounced on a pitch, hitting a home run to right center field and leveling the game at one run a piece. Once again Paulino found his groove retiring the next two batters in the inning as he pitched two more scoreless innings before being replaced by Cole Watts in the top of the seventh.
Johnson City used a four run eighth inning to take the lead. Catcher Cameron Knight singled on a sharp liner to left, only to score on a Carlos Talavera sacrifice bunt that was misplayed by the Greeneville defense which eventually put Talavera on third. Designated hitter J.D. Murders singled to center scoring Talavera. Watts would strike out the next two batters, but walked Carlos Rodriguez who would cross the plate with Murders on a Luis Bandes double making it 5-1 in favor of Johnson City.
The Astros returned the favor in the bottom of the ninth inning, turning the game into a nail biter. After a strike out to start the inning, back-to-back walks and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. Roman Garcia hit a sharp line drive to left field slicing into the corner scoring both runs and ending up at second base with a double. In the next at bat Figueroa walked bringing Adrian Tovalin to the plate who singled to center scoring Garcia and putting runners at first and second. The Astros pinch hit Frankeny Fernandez for Reiny Beltre and with Fernandez at the plate the Cardinals catcher threw to first trying to pick off the runner. As the catcher threw to first, Figueroa took off for third and crossed home plate as the throw to third sailed into the outfield tying the game at five. Johnson City then intentionally walked Fernandez, setting up the double play to end the inning.
It wouldn't be until the bottom of the eleventh inning when Greeneville secured the outcome of the game. Colton Shaver began the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Following another walk to Figueroa, Cody Bohanek stepped up to the plate and sealed the game lining a single up the middle scoring Shaver from second.
Greeneville now heads on the road for a seven game stretch against the Kingsport Mets and the Bluefield Blue Jays with tomorrow night's game in Kingsport scheduled for a 6:30pm first pitch. Greeneville will return home on Saturday July 15th when they host the Elizabethton Twins for a three game series.
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Appalachian League Stories from July 7, 2017
- Mets Overcome Rain, Deficit in Convincing Win - Kingsport Axmen
- 11th Inning Walk-Off Caps Sweep of Cardinals - Greeneville Astros
- Astros Walk-Off Cardinals in Heartbreaker - Johnson City Doughboys
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