Astros hang on to defeat Twins in slugfest
July 28, 2012 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Elizabethton, TN - The Greeneville Astros had seven batters with a multi-hit game and outscored the Elizabethton Twins in a 12-9 slugfest at Joe O'Brien Field on Friday night. The Astros are now 7-0 in games in which they have scored 10 or more runs this season and have moved back within 3.5 games of the Twins, the Appalachian League West division leaders.
A two-run single by Ricky Gingras with the bases loaded in the second inning got the scoring started for Greeneville. Then, on a force out at second base, Jimmy Howick scored from third and gave the Astros a 3-0 lead.
Over the next two innings, the Astros added two more runs on an Ariel Ovando solo homer in the third and a passed ball in the fourth inning allowing Howick to score again and put Greeneville up 5-0.
The Twins got their bats going in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run from Adam Walker. In the fifth, Max Kepler matched it with a homer of his own cutting Greeneville's lead to 5-2.
In the sixth inning, however, the Astros built on their lead. After hitting a single to get on base, Jimmy Howick scored for the third time on the night following a throwing error from Elizabethton. Then, a RBI double from Brian Blasik and a Jean Batista two-run single gave the Astros a commanding 9-2 lead.
Elizabethton's Candido Pimentel, who came into the night with the third highest batting average in the league at .345, cut into the lead with a two-run single of his own in the bottom of the sixth. However, the Astros eventually got those runs back on a two-run homer from Jean Batista in the eighth. It was Batista's fifth home run of the year, tying him with Terrell Joyce for the team lead. More importantly, it gave the Astros an 11-4 cushion.
While Greeneville never trailed in the game, the Twins made the game interesting with a rally in the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded following a double and two walks by the Twins, Candido Pimentel connected on a RBI single. Then, Niko Goodrum doubled to right field to clear the bases and score three more runs. A Rory Rhodes single later scored Goodrum and dropped the Astros lead to 11-9. Suddenly, the Twins had two runners at first and second with the potential go-ahead run at the plate in Adam Walker. At that point, the Astros turned to Jordan Jankowski to come in and get them out of the difficult inning. Walker, who had hit three home runs against Greeneville between Thursday and Friday, grounded into a force out to get the runner at second and end the inning.
After the Astros added a run in the top of the ninth when Angel Ibanez scored on a wild pitch, Jankowski returned to help the Astros close the game. After a fly out to center field, Jankowski struck out the final two batters for the Twins and picked up his first career save. With his two strikeouts, Jankowski now has 33 in 19.2 innings.
The win for the Astros went to starting pitcher Frederick Tiburcio after allowing four runs, with three earned, on four hits over five innings.
The Astros will face the Twins in the rubber match of the three-game series on Saturday at Elizabethton. For more information on the Greeneville Astros, please visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
Appalachian League Stories from July 28, 2012
- Twins even season series with Astros - Greeneville Astros
- Lampe's Last Inning Heroics Gives Pulaski Win - Pulaski Mariners
- Cards Blank D-Braves, 4-0 - Danville Otterbots
- Astros hang on to defeat Twins in slugfest - Greeneville Astros
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