Astros Fall 7-5 to Rays to Close Series
July 1, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Princeton, WV - The Greeneville Astros fell to the Princeton Rays 7-5 in an early 11 AM matchup on Wednesday in the third and final contest of a three-game series.
The Astros jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third as Luis Payano and Osvaldo Duarte scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Myles Straw followed by an error by Princeton rightfielder Angel Perez. Straw, a 12th Round pick from St. Johns River State College, picked up his third RBI on the season as Duarte scored his eighth run and Payano scored his third.
The Rays answered in the bottom of the third inning posting the first run in 2015 scored against Astros starter Albert Abreu. Princeton followed with five runs in the bottom of the fourth to jump to a 6-2 lead.
The Astros began to rally in the top of the sixth when Aaron Mizell doubled to centerfield, then was brought around to score with a one-out Conner Goedert two-run homer. The homerun, which extended Goedert's hit streak to eight games and was his second homer in two nights, knocked Rays starter Blake Bivens out of the game to be replaced by Alberto Casanas. Casanas managed to stifle the emerging Astros bats for the inning but the damage was done and the score stood at 6-4 in Princeton's favor.
The Rays answered by scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth off of Montano but the 20-year old Dominican lefty held his own to close out the inning.
The Greeneville bats attempted to rally again in the top of the seventh beginning with a Marlon Avea line drive double to centerfield. Avea went on to take third base on a passed ball with Payano batting. Duarte singled with two outs to score Avea and pick up his third RBI on the year.
With the score 7-5, Princeton held on to win despite the efforts of Kevin Martir, Avea and Payano in the ninth. Each was walked by Casanas to load the bases. Noel Rodriguez came on to record the final two outs and trounce the Astros comeback efforts and end the game.
Regardless of a shortened outing for Abreu, relievers Alejandro Solarte and Samil De Los Santos each held the Rays runless and allowed just one hit apiece. The left-handed Venezuelan Solarte recorded three strikeouts in the seventh. The right-handed De Los Santos threw two strikeouts with just one hit allowed in the eighth inning.
The Astros return home to Pioneer Park on Thur., July 2 to commence a three-game, home-away-home series against the Elizabethton Twins.
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 1, 2015
- Danville Ends Four Game Skid - Danville Otterbots
- Astros Fall 7-5 to Rays to Close Series - Greeneville Astros
- Greeneville Bats Explode as Astros Best Rays - Greeneville Astros
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