Astros Take Opener over Blue Jays, 6-1, with Late-Inning Antics
July 21, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville Astros Pitcher Junior Garcia
(Greeneville Astros, Credit: Hunter Reed)
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros (15-11) downed the Bluefield Blue Jays (12-15) with six runs in the last four innings of play to take the first game of the teams' three-game series.
The matchup was a pitcher's duel until the fifth inning. Astros starter Ryan Deemes ventured five full innings allowing just five hits and one run while striking out three batters. The 36th Round pick out of Nicholls State gave up only his second run on the year maintaining is Earned Run Average of 0.90.
Left-hander Junior Garcia, making his fifth appearance of 2015 and second in relief, took the mound in the sixth. The Dominican prospect tossed four hitless innings with two strikeouts to lower his already team-leading ERA to 0.37. Garcia took the win as Deemes exited the game with no score to notch a team best third victory on the year.
The Blue Jays were the first team on the board scoring their lone run in the top of the fifth. Designated hitter Andres Sotillo tripled to centerfield to lead off the inning then scored on a sacrifice fly to right by catcher Matt Morgan.
It was the Astros' game from the bottom of the sixth on as they crossed the plate for all six runs in the last four frames of play.
The sixth inning began with a bunt single by shortstop Osvaldo Duarte who would follow by stealing his seventh base with third baseman Randy Cesar batting. With Duarte in scoring position, Cesar dropped a single in right to bring him around with the shortstop's 20th run of 2015.
The Astros took the 2-1 lead in the following inning spurred by a walk drawn by second baseman Ford Stainback. The Rice University product moved to second on a wild pitch thrown by Bluefield reliever Zak Wasilewski with Luis Payano at the plate. Payano would then reach on a fielding error at third base as Stainback scored his fourth run of the year to put Greeneville ahead.
Greeneville secured the victory by backing Garcia's effort on the mound with a surge of four runs in the home half of the eighth inning. Conner Goedert ignited the Astros with a two-out, line drive single to centerfield. Rightfielder Hector Roa followed with a single to give Greeneville a pair of base runners.
Both runners were placed in scoring position at second and third via a Wasilewski balk. Astros leftfielder Brauly Mejia then pounded a deep fly ball over the centerfielder's head and to the wall to clear the bases and give Greeneville the 4-1 advantage.
Catcher Marlon Avea drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Stainback to single and drive in Mejia for the Astros fifth run. Payano followed, lining another single to left to score Avea and give Greeneville their sixth and final run on the night.
Nearly every hitter in the Astros lineup finished the game with at least one hit. Centerfielder Myles Straw led the team with a three-for-five performance including a triple. Goedert, Mejia and Roa each went two-for-four at the plate with a run as Mejia notched two RBI and his triple.
The three-baggers hit by Straw and Mejia tie the Astros single-game record of two held by multiple former Greeneville teams.
Duarte and Stainback both were one-for-three with a run scored and a walk as well as Stainback's RBI. Third baseman Randy Cesar lengthened his hitting streak to nine consecutive games going one-for-four along with Payano who added his sixth RBI of the year.
The Astros will host Bluefield for the second of the three-game set at Pioneer Park on Wednesday with a scheduled first pitch at 7:00 PM.
The Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information, visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
Images from this story
 Greeneville Astros Pitcher Junior Garcia (Hunter Reed) |
Appalachian League Stories from July 21, 2015
- Astros Take Opener over Blue Jays, 6-1, with Late-Inning Antics - Greeneville Astros
- Blue Jays Complete Sweep of Johnson City - Bluefield Ridge Runners
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.
