Astros Deliver Extra Inning Walkoff in Home Opener
June 26, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Osvaldo Duarte of the Greenville Astros Slides in with the Winning Run
(Greeneville Astros)
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros hosted the Bristol Pirates Thursday night for game three of their three game series. Two very evenly matched teams; the score was decided in extra innings for the second consecutive game, with Greeneville emerging victoriously by a score of 2-1 and taking the series.
The Astros threw the 19-year-old right-hander Albert Abreu on the mound to begin the game. Abreu, making his first appearance in professional baseball, limited the Pirates to just two hits in his three innings of work, striking out a pair.
The Pirates threatened to score right off the bat in the top of the first inning by loading the up the bases on a single and a couple walks. However, Abreu, unfazed by the early struggle, maintained his composure and forced a groundout to first baseman Connor Goedert to end the half inning.
The Astros responded immediately in the bottom of the first with a huge home run to left-center field off the bat of the leadoff hitter, Osvaldo Duarte. Duarte, who reached base three times in the game, raised his batting average to .308 on the season and currently leads the team in total bases with eight.
Abreu continued his dominance on the mound in innings two and three, picking up a couple of strikeouts and not allowing a runner to advance past second base. Makay Nelson came in to relieve Abreu at the top of inning number four, making his first appearance of the season. Nelson, the 20th round pick in the 2015 draft, struck out two while allowing four hits over his two innings of work.
Bristol tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning after stringing together three consecutive hits. Sandy Santos picked up his second RBI of the season, plating Carlos Ozuna to tie the game at 1-1.
The Astros threatened again in the bottom of the fifth as the catcher Brian Pena reached first base on a line drive up the middle. Connor Goedert responded with a single of his own, his second hit of the season, advancing Pena to second base. A fielder's choice groundball from Duarte moved both runners into scoring position with two outs, but the Astros were unable to put together that last base hit to score a run.
Chris Murphy replaced Nelson on the hill in the top of the sixth and struck out the first batter he faced. Yet another pitcher to toss his first inning of professional ball, Murphy worked two scoreless innings while sending three batters back to the dugout by way of the K. Brian Pena helped out his pitcher by catching Sandy Santos stealing second in the top of the seventh inning.
Zac Grotz, the Astros' 28th round pick out of Embry-Riddle University, was the next pitcher to toe the slab for Greeneville in the ballgame. After allowing a leadoff single, Grotz was assisted by some phenomenal defense from Aaron Mizell at second base, who recorded all three outs of the inning. Grotz pitched through the ninth inning, surrendering just the one hit and striking out two.
With the game locked at a stalemate after nine full, Astros fans settled in for some free baseball on opening night as the teams prepared for extra innings. To begin the top of the tenth, Greeneville sent Jacob Dorris, the 22 year-old righty from Texas Tech - Corpus Christi, to the mound. Dorris continued the Astros' dismantlement of the Pirates' offense through the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth innings, allowing only two hits and punching-out four. Cristhopher Santamaria, who appeared in Tuesday's game in Bristol, came in to record the final out of the twelfth inning by getting Nick Buckner to ground out to Duarte at short.
With the crowd getting anxious for the post-game fireworks show, Greeneville looked to end the scoring drought and put a run on the board in the bottom of the twelfth. Duarte led the attack by earning a one-out walk to get on base. Myles Straw then delivered a huge line drive double to right field for his second extra-base hit of the season, advancing Duarte into scoring position at third base. Arturo Michelena entered the game as a pinch hitter and came through in the clutch with a sacrifice fly to right field which scored the speedy Osvaldo Duarte from third, winning the game for the Astros 2-1. The benches and bullpens rushed onto the field as the Astros celebrated around Michelena, and the fans enjoyed their long anticipated fireworks show from the Pioneer Park seats.
The Greeneville Astros will next take on the Danville Braves at Pioneer Park on Friday, June 26th at 7:00 PM, with the Caribbean Cowboys Band performing live at 5:30 PM. Attendees will receive a promotional Astros fan and are welcomed to stay for another fireworks show after the conclusion of the ballgame.
Images from this story
 Osvaldo Duarte of the Greenville Astros Slides in with the Winning Run |
Appalachian League Stories from June 26, 2015
- Braves Rain on Astros' Parade - Greeneville Astros
- Astros Deliver Extra Inning Walkoff in Home Opener - Greeneville Astros
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
