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Cesar, Tucker Homer to Lift Astros

September 5, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release


Greeneville Astros Celebrate Playoff Win
Greeneville Astros Celebrate Playoff Win
(Greeneville Astros, Credit: Hunter Reed)

Kingsport, TN - The Greeneville Astros (1-1) never trailed in game two of the Appalachian League West Divisional Playoffs as they cruised to a series-tying 6-2 victory over the Kingsport Mets (1-1) on Friday night. The win sets up a deciding game three back at Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingsport on Saturday.

The Astros' three through six hitters combined for nine of the team's 12 hits, scored five runs, hit two homers, and accounted for all six RBI. Meanwhile, pitchers Diogenes Almengo and Edgardo Sandoval limited the Mets, one of the league's best-hitting teams, to two runs on seven hits.

Almengo allowed two runs, with one earned, on five hits over his five innings of work. The 20-year-old's start also produced five strikeouts and allowed him to earn the win.

After each team went three up, three down in the first inning, the Astros got a leadoff single from first baseman Connor Goedert to start the second. Then, third baseman Randy Cesar hit a two-run shot over the fence in left-center field to give the Astros an early 2-0 lead.

The Mets looked poised to cut into the Astros' lead in the bottom of the inning, but outstanding defensive play took that opportunity away. Patrick Mazeika, who led the league with 27 doubles during the regular season, led off for the Mets with his first of the postseason. When Luis Ortega singled into right field on the very next at-bat, Mazeika was waved home but right fielder Kyle Tucker came up throwing and gunned him down at the plate. Later, with Mets runners at the corners and two outs, a groundball to second ended the threat.

In the top of the third, three consecutive singles by Myles Straw, Daz Cameron, and Tucker tacked on another score for the Astros. However, Kingsport got on the board in the bottom of the inning when catcher Darryl Knight scored on a wild pitch.

The Mets further cut into the Astros lead in the fifth. Kyle Kaczmarski, the league's batting champion in regular season with a .355 average, got on with a leadoff walk and stole second. Then, Luis Carpio singled into centerfield to score the run and leave the Mets trailing by one.

The Astros got that run back in the next half-inning when Tucker came back up to the plate and crushed a solo homer towards the scoreboard in right field. It was his second home run in a Greeneville uniform and first of the postseason, giving the Astros a 4-2 advantage.

Sandoval entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning for Greeneville in relief of Almengo. The 19-year-old Panamanian pitcher proceeded to hold the Mets scoreless with just two hits, both singles, over the final four frames. He picked up two strikeouts during the outing and was credited with the save.

Over the final two innings, Sandoval had a four-run lead to work with thanks to a two out, two-run eighth inning from the Astros' heart of the order. Tucker started it off with a single and a stolen base; he scored on a Goedert RBI single into right field. After another single from Cesar, Kevin Martir connected on the Astros' fourth straight single to bring in the final run and conclude the scoring.

Tucker, the number three hitter in the lineup, led the way for the Astros with a three-for-four night at the plate. He was followed by Goedert, Cesar, and Martir as the fourth through sixth hitters. Each went two-for-four during the game. Tucker and Cesar each had two RBI while Goedert and Martir had one apiece.

The Astros will return to Hunter Wright Stadium on Saturday night with the opportunity to advance to the Appalachian League Championship Series for the second time in three years. First pitch is set for 7:00pm.




Images from this story

Greeneville Astros Pitcher Diogenes Almengo
Greeneville Astros Pitcher Diogenes Almengo

(Hunter Reed)
Greeneville Astros Celebrate Playoff Win
Greeneville Astros Celebrate Playoff Win

(Hunter Reed)
 

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