Alcala, Castro Lead Astros Shutout of Yankees

August 8, 2016 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release


Pulaski, VA - The Greeneville Astros (25-20) picked up their first shutout victory of the season by defeating the Pulaski Yankees (20-22) on Monday night, 3-0. Jorge Alcala and Ricardo Castro combined to hold the Yankees to just four hits as the Astros reclaimed first place in the Appalachian League West Division.

Alcala (1-0) got the start for the Astros and allowed just two hits, both singles, over the course of five innings of work. The right-hander, who started the season in the Gulf Coast League, walked one and struck out three as he earned his first win with Greeneville.

Castro entered the game in relief of Alcala in the sixth inning and went the rest of the way with similar results. Over the final four innings, the 20-year-old pitcher picked up four strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one walk. As a result, he was credited with his first career save.

The Astros got their first score in the top of the second inning. With Troy Sieber on first with a walk, Carlos Machado singled to put runners at first and second. Then Reiny Beltre, who went two-for-four on the night, knocked in Sieber on a RBI single.

In the fifth, Beltre walked to lead off the inning and Vicente Sanchez followed with a bunt single for one of his two hits in the game. Then Jonathan Arauz, who was just named the Appalachian League Player of the Week on Monday, moved both runners over to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. Finally, Stijn van der Meer reached on a fielding error to allow Beltre to head home and extend the Astros lead to 2-0.

The final run of the game came in the seventh inning. With one out, Arauz was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a van der Meer single into right field. Then, Abraham Toro followed with another single to bring in the score and give the Astros a 3-0 advantage they would maintain through the end of the game.

The Astros, with Monday's win and a previous three-game sweep, have now clinched the season series with Pulaski. However, with Cristian Javier getting the start on the mound, the Astros will need another win against the Yankees on Tuesday at 7:00pm to claim the current three-game series.

The Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information, visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.

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