Astros Rally Falls Short in Loss To Royals
Published on July 9, 2016 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - After an hour and 52 minute rain delay to get started, the Greeneville Astros were unable to overcome an early deficit as they fell to the Burlington Royals, 8-4. A rally by the Astros made things interesting, but they were unable to pull through in the end.
The first two innings were quiet at Pioneer Park with no score as Astros starting pitcher Carlos Sanabria totaled three strikeouts. Meanwhile, a Miguelangel Sierra single was the only hit by either team.
The Royals bats heated up in the top of the third as they had 13 batters come up during the inning. Yordany Salva got the scoring started with a RBI double. Then, Nicky Lopez had a RBI single and later stole home. Next, Boo Vasquez hit a three-run homer. Finally, Logan Gray scored on a passed ball to give Burlington a 7-0 lead.
Carlos Hiraldo came in to get the final two outs for the Astros in the third and totaled four and two-thirds scoreless innings. Over that stretch, he surrendered just one hit and one walk while striking out four.
Tyler Wolfe led off the fourth inning for the Astros with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and moved over to third on a ground out. However, he was left stranded as the game advanced to the fifth inning.
Over the next three innings, the Astros broke through and it all started in the fifth as Bryan De La Cruz tripled on a fly ball to right field to lead off the inning. The next batter, Connor MacDonald, hit a RBI single to bring in the Astros' first score.
In the sixth, Miguelangel Sierra hit a lead-off homer to left field for his team-leading sixth homerun of the year. It was his second homer in as many nights against the Royals.
De La Cruz came back up to lead off the seventh inning and singled on a line drive to center field. Then MacDonald followed with a two-run homer, the Astros' league-leading 23rd home run of the season, to left center field to cut the Royals lead to 7-4.
After no action in the eighth, the Royals added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning on an Emmanuel Rivera double to seal the win.
Travis Eckert (2-0) was the winning pitcher for the Royals as he went five innings and gave up one run on four hits with three strikeouts. Meanwhile, Justin Camp closed the game with two scoreless innings to pick up a save.
The Astros go on the road for three games against the Elizabethton Twins beginning on Saturday at 6:00pm. The next homestand will start on Wednesday, July 13 against the Pulaski Yankees.
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 9, 2016
- Pulaski Drops Late-Inning Battle - Pulaski River Turtles
- Astros Rally Falls Short in Loss To Royals - Greeneville Astros
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