Astros hold on for 3-2 win over Mets
July 9, 2013 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Kingsport, TN - The Greeneville Astros (10-8) battled the Kingsport Mets (7-11) on Monday night at Hunter Wright Stadium and held on for a 3-2 win. Chase McDonald, who made his debut with the Astros last Friday, homered for the second consecutive game. Meanwhile, left-handed reliever J.D. Osborne closed the game and picked up his Appalachian League-leading fifth save for the Astros.
McDonald, the Astros' 12th round selection in the June 2013 Draft, homered with two outs in the first inning and a runner on first. With that swing, the East Carolina alum gave the Astros a lead they never relinquished, although it was a close one to the end.
In the bottom of the first, the Mets cut the Astros lead in half on a solo homer from Victor Cruzado. Coincidentally, like McDonald, it was also Cruzado's second home run in as many games.
In the third inning, the Astros were able to stretch their slim lead to 3-1. With one out, Brett Phillips doubled on a fly ball to the wall in right field and then scored when he raced around the bases to beat the throw home on a Tanner Mathis line drive single to left field.
Four innings later, with the score remaining 3-1, the Mets got some life in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jeff Diehl led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Richie Rodriguez ground out. Finally, the Astros got the Mets to fly out and ground out to end the inning with a 3-2 lead.
At that point, the Astros turned to J.D. Osborne to close the game. The 36th round pick from Wofford pitched 2.0 innings, gave up two hits and struck out five. The final two of which came on batters swinging with the tying run at second and the winning run on first. Over 10.0 innings pitched on the season, the lefty has now collected a total of 19 strikeouts to give him the second highest SO/IP ratio in the league.
The winning pitcher for Greeneville was Christian Garcia, who replaced starter Sebastian Kessay with two outs in third inning and remained in the game through the fifth. Overall, he pitched 2.1 innings, gave up just one hit and had one strikeout.
The Astros are now 4-2 against the Mets this season and will travel to Kingsport one final time on Tuesday night. However, the clubs will battle four more times in August at Pioneer Park in Greeneville. For more information on the Greeneville Astros, please visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
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