Astros Blast Twins, 12-4
July 12, 2016 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Elizabethton, TN - The Greeneville Astros (8-11) exploded with an eight-run ninth inning on Monday to take down the Elizabethton Twins (7-11) for the second straight night. The impressive 12-4 victory at Joe O'Brien Field also helped the Astros claim their second consecutive road series win of the season.
Despite the final score, it was a close game until the end as each team went back-and-forth scoring runs for a good portion of the night. It all started when Astros designated hitter Wander Franco drew first blood with a two-run single in the second for one of his three hits on the night. However, the Twins answered right away with a run apiece on a Shane Carrier double and a Robert Molina ground out.
The next score came for the Astros in the top of the fourth when right fielder Bryan De La Cruz led off the inning with his second home run of the season to left center field. The homer was part of a three-for-four night for De La Cruz that also saw him connect on a double in the first, a single in the eighth, and score three runs.
Astros starter Abdiel Saldana exited the game with a 3-2 lead after striking out five over four innings while allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. He gave way to lefty Devon Carr, who would give up just one unearned run during his one inning of work.
With runners at the corners and one out in the fifth, the Twins' Brandon Lopez grounded into a force out at second which allowed a run to score and even the game at 3-3.
After a scoreless sixth and seventh innings, the Astros would go on to take the lead for good in the eighth. Two quick strikeouts began the inning, but new first baseman Troy Sieber crushed a solo homer to straightaway center field to put Greeneville back on top.
The home run was Sieber's first with Greeneville, but it was the team's league-leading 27th of the year. The recent 24th round draft pick is now the 14th different player to homer for Greeneville this season.
The Astros maintained their one-run lead through the bottom of the eighth inning before tallying eight runs on six hits in the ninth. The eight runs in a single inning narrowly missed the club record, which remains at nine.
Chaz Pal got the eighth inning started with a triple and scored on Franco's single. After a Ruben Castro base hit, Marcos Almonte added to the total with a RBI double. Then, two more scored on an Abraham Toro-Hernandez ground out. A couple of walks later, Pal was back up with the bases loaded and delivered a two-run single. Finally Luis Payano, who entered the game as a pinch runner for Franco early in the inning, came up and knocked in the Astros' final two scores.
Payano's hit gave the Astros a season-high 17 on the night with 10 different players getting at least one of those hits. The club was led by three-hit nights from both De La Cruz and Franco, but also got two hits apiece out of Pal, Castro, and current Appalachian League Player of the Week Miguelangel Sierra.
The Twins went on to add one final score in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Carrier, but they never seriously threatened and the Astros cruised to the victory.
Ricardo Castro (2-0) pitched the final four innings for the Astros and earned the win. During that time, he surrendered just one unearned run on three hits while striking out five.
Tuesday will be a league-wide off day before the Astros return home to Pioneer Park to begin a six-game homestand on Wednesday against the Pulaski Yankees. Game time will be at 7:00pm with gates opening at 6:00pm.
The Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information, visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
Appalachian League Stories from July 12, 2016
- Astros Blast Twins, 12-4 - Greeneville Astros
- Pulaski Swept by Burlington 8-5 - Pulaski River Turtles
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