Mariners top Astros twice
August 8, 2012 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Pulaski, VA - The Greeneville Astros arrived in Pulaski on Tuesday to begin a three-game series with the Mariners, but first the two clubs had to complete their suspended game from July 19. After Pulaski held on for the win over the final innings of the contest, the Mariners survived a late scare from the Astros to win the regularly scheduled game as well.
The suspended game, which began in Greeneville on July 19 before being called for rain, was picked up in the bottom of the seventh inning in Pulaski because the Mariners were not scheduled to return to Greeneville anymore after that date.
In Greeneville, the game was scoreless through six innings. Then, Pulaski put up five runs in the top half of the seventh. With the bases loaded, the Mariners scored one run when Franklin Diaz grounded into a force out, another on a RBI single from James Zamarripa and three more on a base-clearing double from Jabari Henry. Then the rain came and the game was suspended.
Trailing 5-0, the Astros got off to a good start in the bottom of the seventh. With Ariel Ovando already on first base from a walk before the original game was suspended, Jean Batista singled and Michael Martinez hit a two-run double. Then, Martinez moved over to third on a passed ball and scored on a Ricky Gingras ground out to pull the Astros within two runs at 5-3.
In the eighth inning, however, the Cardinals got those three runs right back. The first five Johnson City batters connected on singles including a two-run single by Franklin Diaz and a RBI-single from Bryan Brito.
Pulaski's starting pitcher from July 19, Blake Holovach (1-1), got his first win of the season after holding the Astros scoreless on four hits through six innings. Min-Sih Chen (1) pitched the final three innings, gave up four hits, two runs, one earned run and got the save.
In the originally scheduled nine-inning contest on Tuesday, the Mariners jumped to an early lead. In the first inning, Dario Pizzano hit a RBI-single. Then, in the second, Tyler Marlette doubled the Pulaski led to 2-0 on a solo homer.
The next four innings went scoreless before the Astros got on the board in the seventh. Following two walks and with two outs, Greeneville scored on a Michael Martinez RBI-single on a fly ball to left field to cut Pulaski's lead in half at 2-1.
With only Jean Batista's league-leading 17th double in the eighth inning, the Astros headed into the ninth still needing a run. With two outs, Brian Blasik got on with a single. Then, a Martinez single moved Blasik, the tying run, over to third. However, a strikeout ended the game as the Astros came up just short. Jochi Ogando (2-2) pitched 5.0 innings, gave up four hits, walked five and had five strikeouts as he earned the win for Pulaski. In closing the game over the final 2.1 innings, David Holman gave up four hits, struck out four and picked up a save (6).
The Astros and Mariners will meet again on Wednesday in Pulaski at 7:00pm.
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