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Kingsport Axmen

Dirocie's Homer All K-Mets Totaled in Game 1 Loss

July 31, 2017 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Kingsport Axmen News Release


ELIZABETHTON, Tenn.- The K-Mets fell in Game 1 9-1 to the Elizabethton Twins Sunday night in the first of a threegame series at Joe O'Brien Field as the Mets managed only one run off four hits prior to the ninth inning with the only bright spot offensively coming from Anthony Dirocie .

Dirocie notched a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the Kingsport Mets (15-22) on the board first in the game. On the other hand, the E-Twins (24-14) managed to score in every inning but three while plating two runs in the first inning, one in the second and third, three in the fifth and two more in the sixth inning.

The Appalachian League West-leading E-Twins were off and running in the bottom of the first inning following a top of the first where starting pitcher Ryley Widell struck out a pair of K-Mets. The Twins scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame off the bat of Jose Miranda to get a quick 2-0 lead after one.

One of the runs off the two-run single up the middle, however, was unearned as Kingsport short stop Hansel Moreno had a fielding error to begin the inning that allowed the leadoff man Ariel Montesano aboard.

Another run was added for the hoe team in the inning that followed when Mark Contreras scored on a wild pitch. After retiring the first batter of the frame, James walked two and hit another to load the bases. An out later, the wild pitch led to another run as the Twins led by three runs after two innings of work.

Elizabethton drove in another in the fourth to up its lead to four runs off a leadoff home run from Andrew Cosgrove . The drive was the first bomb of the season for the catcher from Elizabethton as it sailed over the highest part of the outfield fence in straight-away left field.

The home team continued to chip away in the fifth inning by plating three more runs off four hits in the frame. The RBI knocks came from Bechtold, Contreras and T.J. Dixon has Christian James 's days as done for Kingsport after allowing seven runs - six earned-off eight hits in only five innings of work on the mound.

Joshua Payne was then called on to pitch after the departure of James and surrendered two more runs in the sixth-only one earned-off three hits and a J.J. Robinson RBI single. The other run came in to score on the second error of the day from Kingsport's Moreno at short stop earlier in the inning on what potentially could have been a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.

Prior to the sixth inning for Payne, the K-Mets' reliver had not been touched this season with a clean record and ERA at 0-0 and 0.00 in five appearances on the year with a 15/0 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Kingsport finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth inning thanks to a leadoff home run from Anthony Dirocie. The drive was over the left-center field wall by a long shot and was the eighth home run of the season for the center fielder. Thanks to the long ball, the Mets avoid being shutout for the second time this season (both would have been from Elizabethton).

The score held final as Kingsport dropped Game 1 of the three-game series to Elizabethton 9-1 after being outhit 11-6 in the game and committing two errors defensively. Dirocie was the lone bright spot offensively for three K-Mets as the centerfielder tallied a two-hit day and was responsible for the only run with the solo blast in the eighth.

For Elizabethton, Miranda and Carrier had multi-hit days with the former driving in a pair while Cosgrove's first home run of the season as a solo shot in the fourth frame. Picking up the win for the home team was Moises Gomez (3-1) as the righty tossed the final five innings on the night surrendering only one run off four hits. James (1-2) took the loss for Kingsport.

Game 2 of the series is set to begin Monday night at 7:00 p.m. from Joe O'Brien Field. Garrison Bryant will take the hill for the Kingsport Mets as coverage of the game can be heard live on the Kingsport Mets Baseball Network beginning with the Braeden's Barbeque Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m.

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Appalachian League Stories from July 31, 2017


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