Astros Edge Pirates on Opening Day to Give Rogers First Managerial Win
June 24, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville Astros Manager Lamarr Rogers Talks with Pitcher Cristhopher Santamaria
(Greeneville Astros)
Bristol, VA "" It was Opening Day on Tuesday night, and the Greeneville Astros were beginning their season on the road for the 10th time in their 12-year history when they traveled to Bristol to take on the Pirates. In a close game that saw the teams battling for leads, it turned out to be a memorable trip for the Astros' Lamarr Rogers as he earned his first managerial win with a 7-6 triumph over the Pirates.
It was the fourth time in club history in which the Astros have opened a season in Bristol, although this was the first time against a Pirates affiliate. With the win, the Astros are now 2-2 at Bristol and 5-5 overall on the road on the first day of the league season.
The game began with two scoreless innings despite both teams having runners in scoring position with less than two outs. However, the Astros capitalized on a leadoff double from Aaron Mizell in the top of the third inning with a two-out RBI double by Myles Straw. For each player, it was their first hit as a professional after being selected in the MLB draft barely two weeks ago.
After a leadoff double for Bristol in the bottom of the third, one of six Astros errors on the night allowed the Pirates to even the score but not for long. In fact, this was the theme of the next few innings.
In the fourth inning, the Astros took the lead again with a Randy Cesar RBI single only to have Bristol bounce back with a Carlos Ozuna sacrifice fly to score Trae Arbet. Then, in the fifth, Osvaldo Duarte got a double for the first of his two hits on the night and scored on one of Bristol's three errors in the game to give the Astros a 3-2 lead. However, in the bottom of the fifth, the Pirates took advantage of more Astros' mistakes as they scored three runs on a bases-loaded walk and two wild pitches.
Facing their first deficit in the game at 5-3, the Astros came out swinging as pinch-hitter Arturo Michelena led off the sixth inning with a triple. Then, Randy Cesar, hit a sacrifice fly to pull the Astros back within a single run.
In the seventh inning, Duarte got on for the Astros with a one-out single, advanced to second on a balk, and beat a rundown to take third. Then, Kevin Martir, another recent draft pick of the Astros, knocked in Duarte to tie the game at 5-5 and move Myles Straw over to third following a walk and stolen base. Straw then scored on a Justin Garcia single, his first as a professional, to give the Astros a 6-5 lead.
Although it took an insurance run in the ninth, the Astros did not relinquish the lead again. The final Astros' score was Duarte's third run of the game and it began with him on first base following a walk. Straw then laid down a bunt, but an overthrow to first base allowed Duarte to score from first and advance Straw all the way to third.
The Pirates attempted to make the game interesting in the bottom of the ninth with a two-out solo shot from Erik Lunde, but the Astros held on for the final out and an Opening Day win.
The Astros used six different pitchers on the night, but reliever Samil De Los Santos picked up the win after entering in the fifth and throwing 1.1 innings with three strikeouts. Meanwhile, Alejandro Solarte was credited with a save.
With Yhoan Acosta scheduled to take the mound, the Astros (1-0) will travel to Bristol (0-1) one more time on Wednesday for a 7:00pm game before their home opener at Pioneer Park against the Pirates on Thursday at 7:00pm.
For more information on the Greeneville Astros please visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
Images from this story
 Greeneville Astros Manager Lamarr Rogers Talks with Pitcher Cristhopher Santamaria |
Appalachian League Stories from June 24, 2015
- Astros Edge Pirates on Opening Day to Give Rogers First Managerial Win - Greeneville Astros
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