Astros split two games with Rays
Published on August 24, 2014 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Princeton, WV - The Greeneville Astros (30-30) and Princeton Rays (34-26), who are both hopeful to get into the Appalachian League playoffs next week, split two games on Saturday night at Hunnicutt Field. The Rays won the first match-up, 7-2, to complete the game that was suspended for rain on Friday night. Then, the Astros answered with a 5-2 victory in the second contest.
With just six days left until the conclusion of the regular season, the Astros are two games behind in the race for the final playoff spot in the West Division. Meanwhile, the Rays are holding onto a half-game lead for first place in the East.
The first game was picked up where it was suspended on Friday night, with no score in the middle of the first inning. Then, the Rays seized control of the game with a six-run second inning followed up by a Cristian Toribio solo homer in the third.
In addition to his home run, Toribio also had a two-run double and finished the game going two-for-four with two runs and three RBI.
The Astros, who were led by Ydarqui Marte and Hector Roa with two hits apiece, eventually put some runs on the board in the seventh inning as both players scored on ground outs to cut the Rays' lead to five. However, the Astros would not get any closer.
Brent Honeywell, who picked up the game for the Rays where it was suspended, pitched five scoreless innings on three hits with four strikeouts as he earned the win.
Following a brief intermission, the Astros and Rays returned to the field for their originally scheduled contest. However, since they had just completed a suspended game, the second one was shortened to seven innings.
The game once again began with the Rays taking the initial lead. This time, it came on a Hector Montes RBI single in the first inning.
In the third, the Astros evened the score with a Jeffry Santos sacrifice fly in the top of the inning. Then, Angle Moreno led off the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to help the Rays retake the lead, 2-1.
After a scoreless fourth, the Astros put together their best inning of the night in the fifth as they hit for the cycle as a team on six hits and scored three runs. After a Jeffry Santos triple with one out, Alex Melendez knocked him in with a RBI single. Then, following a Hector Roa double, Yonathan Mejia hit a two-run homer with two outs to put the Astros on top, 4-2
The Astros added one more run in the sixth inning on a Kristian Trompiz bunt single to conclude the scoring. Then, the Astros' bullpen shut down the Rays over the final two innings.
Ambiorix De Leon, who was making his Greeneville debut since being called up from the Gulf Coast League Astros, retired the side in the sixth inning with one strikeout. Then, Eric Peterson came on in the seventh and struck out the side to pick up his team-leading sixth save of the season.
After striking out three, walking one, and giving up two runs on six hits over the first five innings, starter Devonte German was declared the winning pitcher for the Astros.
The Astros will return home to Pioneer Park on Sunday to begin their final homestand of the regular season against the Bluefield Blue Jays (29-33). Game time is set for 6:00pm.
Appalachian League Stories from August 24, 2014
- Mariners Drop Series to Twins, 9-2 - Pulaski Mariners
- Pulaski Defeats Burlington, 6-3 - Pulaski Mariners
- Blue Jays rally to defeat Astros, 6-3, with 6-run 9th inning - Greeneville Astros
- D-Braves split doubleheader to start road trip - Danville Otterbots
- Astros split two games with Rays - Greeneville Astros
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
