Astros Hold off Pirates to Reclaim First Place
Published on August 5, 2016 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - In their first game back home at Pioneer Park in over a week, the Greeneville Astros (23-18) channeled their winning ways beating the Bristol Pirates (16-24) with the final score of 4-2. Paired with a Johnson City Cardinals loss, the Astros now hold sole possession of first place in the Appalachian League West Division.
Starter Ben Smith lowered his ERA to 1.59 after throwing four and one-third innings, giving up two hits and recording five of the six strikeouts by the Astros pitching staff. Although the Pirates would have runners in scoring position the first two innings, Bristol would remain scoreless thanks in part to Smith's strikeouts and solid defense.
One outstanding play by the Astros defense in the top of the second inning directly kept Bristol off the scoreboard. The Pirates, with a runner on first, singled into left field. As the runner rounded third, shortstop Jonathan Arauz cut off a throw from left fielder Chaz Pal and relayed the ball home to throw out the Bristol runner and keep the game tied at zero through three innings.
The Astros would crack open the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning. Arauz started off the inning with a leadoff double, his first of two hits on the night, making him tied for the team lead with seven doubles. After two quick outs, third baseman Abraham Toro-Hernandez brought him home with an RBI double to right field to give the Astros a 1-0 lead.
Looking to extend their lead, Pal stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning and smashed a solo home run to left field, his third of the year, leaving the Astros with a two-score advantage. The outfielder has now recorded a hit in six straight games raising his batting average to the tune of .276, which is now the third best average among active Greeneville players.
Reliever Cristian Javier, who earned the win, entered in the top of the sixth inning and surrendered a leadoff single, but then sat down the next three Bristol players. The Pirates would try to score in the seventh inning, but again found no luck.
The inning started off with a fly ball that deflected off center fielder Frankeny Fernandez, but Pal was there to regain control and throw the batter out attempting to take second base. Following a popout, Bristol singled and walked putting two on until Javier forced a fly out to left field.
Greeneville opened the bottom of the seventh with a Toro-Hernandez single, the second of his three hits on the night, and a walk by Troy Sieber, who extended his on-base streak to 18 games ever since he joined the team. Pal returned to the plate for a sacrifice bunt and made it to first base after a fielding error. A balk with the bases loaded would tack on the first of two more runs with the second coming on a Luis Payano sacrifice fly.
Bristol would manage to rally late in the top of the ninth inning. After two quick outs, the Pirates scored two runs on a two-RBI single following a walk and a single, bringing the tying run to the plate. Down 4-2 with two outs and a runner on, Bristol would fly out to Fernandez in center field ending the threat and securing the third win in a row for Greeneville.
The Astros continue their current three-game homestand against the Bristol Pirates on Friday night at 7:00pm. Greenville will send Carlos Sanabria (1-2) to the mound as the Astros will look for their seventh win out of their last nine games. Friday night's game will feature Friday Night Fireworks and honor local policemen, firemen, doctors and nurses for Heroes Night presented by Laughlin Memorial Hospital.
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 August 5, 2016
- Burlington Takes Series with 10-5 Win - Kingsport Axmen
- Minor League Baseball Announces July Players of the Month - Bluefield Ridge Runners
- Astros Hold off Pirates to Reclaim First Place - Greeneville Astros
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