Astros bounce back with a bang, beat the Danville Braves 13-4
Published on July 1, 2012 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - After a 17-inning game on Friday night, the Greeneville Astros came back on Saturday ready for vengeance. Their spirit proved victorious as the Greeneville Astros outscored the Danville Braves by a nine-run margin.
The game started calmly with no score in the first after two strikeouts and a flyout for Astros starting pitcher Richard Rodriguez and three ground outs by the top of the lineup for Greeneville.
Danville was the first to score in the top of the second after an Aris Alcantara single, a steal and another single by Trenton Moses. Troy Snitker got the first two RBI with a double. After issuing a walk to Logan Robbins, Rodriguez struck out Ronald Luna and Kurt Flemming to end the inning. Not to be outdone, the Greeneville Astros quickly struck back in the bottom of the second inning. Catcher Ernesto Genoves got things started with a double, and Ariel Ovando helped with a single to bring in the first run. Jimmy Howick then singled to center field to move Ovando to second. Jose Monzon hit a three-run inside-the-park homerun to bring the score to 4-2 in favor of the Astros in the bottom of the inning.
The Astros held their own in the third to keep the lead. Despite an error by Greeneville and a single by Aris Alcantara, the Danville Braves failed to score. Even with a two-run lead, the Astros did not stop swinging the bats. Jean Batista led off the inning with his second homerun of the season, while Michael Martinez followed with a two-run shot of his own after a single by Genoves. After a ground out by Ariel Ovando and pop out by Jimmy Howick, the inning was complete.
In the fourth, Danville made an attempt to decrease their deficit after a one-out double by Troy Snitker, but the Astros came out of the top of the fourth unscathed after two strikeouts for Rodriguez. The Astros then put another on the board after singles by both Angel Ibanez and Jose Monzon, a sacrifice fly by Brian Blasik, and a wild pitch by Eduardo Castillo. The Astros ended the inning by increasing their lead 8-2.
After a ground out for Kurt Fleming and a strike out for Levi Hyams, Rodriguez walked Casey Kalenkosky, only to strikeout Aris Alcantara and end the top of the fifth inning. After a pitching change for Danville in the bottom of the fifth, Michael Martinez and Ariel Ovando both singled to put runners at first and second. Jimmy Howick then reached on a force attempt throwing error by second baseman Levi Hyams. Angel Ibanez then singled to score Michael Martinez and move Ovando to third with Howick moving up to second base. The runners advanced after a wild pitch by Alex Wilson and after a ground out by Jean Batista, Ovando came home to bring the score to 12-2.
After replacing second baseman Brian Blasik with Josh McGee, Troy Snitker got a two-out single in an attempt at a comeback for Danville. The single was then followed by a hit batsman by Rodriguez to put two on for the Braves. Rodriguez quickly recovered with a force out by Ronald Luna. The Astros then brought in Ricky Gingras as the DH after a fly out by Genoves. Gingras then grounded out and Howick got the third out on a ground ball, leaving Ovando stranded at first after a single.
In the top of the seventh, Scott Zuloaga replaced Rodriguez as the pitcher a run after Kurt Fleming doubled and Levi Hyams singled to bring him home. After a ground out by Kalenkosky and a hit batsman, Zuloaga then struck out Felix Marte and Trenton Moses to bring it to 12-3 after the top of the seventh. After a strikeout by Ibanez and ground outs by Jose Monzon and Josh McGee, the inning was over with the Astros sporting an outstanding nine run lead.
Danville scored another in the top of the eighth with an RBI by Ronald Luna after a double by Troy Snitker. After a force out by Kurt Fleming and a fly out by Levi Hyams, the Astros came up to take back the run given up in the top of the eighth. Marc Wik got a one-out single and Ernesto Genoves followed with a double to bring in the run. The Astros failed to score more after a single by Gingras, but brought their lead to 13-4.
Jordan Jankowski then replaced Zuloaga to finish the game. Kalenkosky was the first out with a ground out that was followed by Alcantara reaching on a throwing error. The Astros recovered quickly with a strikeout for Felix Marte and a ground out by Trenton Moses. This ended the game with the Astros outscoring the Danville Braves 13-4. This blast wrapped up the series against Danville and brought the Astros to a winning record in all four of their series for the 2012 season.
The Greeneville Astros go on the road for a three-game series with the Kingsport Mets before returning home on July 4th for a six game homestand beginning with a three-game series against the Johnson City Cardinals. For more information on the Greeneville Astros, please visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
Appalachian League Stories from July 1, 2012
- White Sox Shut out Cardinals - Bristol White Sox
- D-Braves Win Fourth Straight Home Game, 7-3 - Danville Otterbots
- White Sox end losing streak - Bristol White Sox
- Astros bounce back with a bang, beat the Danville Braves 13-4 - Greeneville Astros
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