Astros Take Series Finale over Blue Jays, 8-1
July 23, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville Astros Pitcher Jose Hernandez
(Greeneville Astros, Credit: Hunter Reed)
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros (16-12) took their seventh series of the season with an 8-1 victory over the Bluefield Blue Jays (13-16) at Pioneer Park on Thursday.
Seven of nine hitters in the Astros lineup recorded at least one hit as three Greeneville pitchers combined to hold Bluefield to just one run.
The game was scoreless through the first three innings until the Blue Jays scored in the top of the fourth. Designated hitter Gabriel Clark opened the inning with a single. In near-identical fashion to their tiebreaking run in game two, Bluefield first baseman Christian Williams followed with a triple down the first base line in the same spot as Freddie Rodriguez's the night before.
With the Blue Jays up 1-0 the Astros answered in the home half of the fourth with a tying score. Marlon Avea led off with a single to centerfield then moved to second on a wild pitch by Bluefield starter Dalton Rodriguez. First baseman Justin Garcia lined a single to right to score Avea and notch his sixth RBI of the season.
The Astros pitching staff held the Blue Jay bats from that point on led by left-handed starter Yhoan Acosta. Acosta threw four full innings and allowed the lone run on four hits while striking out four batters.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Astros took the 2-1 lead on no hits. Greeneville second baseman Ford Stainback drew a one-out walk then stole second only to be followed by Luis Payano, who reached on a throwing error. Shortstop Osvaldo Duarte grounded into a fielder's choice leading to a lengthy rundown ousting Payano while Stainback scored.
Cristhopher Santamaria earned his second win after pitching the fifth and allowing no hits or runs. Right-handed reliever Jose Hernandez took the mound in the top of the sixth stating his dominance by striking out the Blue Jay side.
The Astros' bats added a run in the bottom of the sixth beginning with a two-out single by right fielder Hector Roa to centerfield. Leftfielder Brauly Mejia drew a walk to put two runners on for catcher Kevin Martir to single Roa in for the 3-1 advantage.
Greeneville followed with a pair of runs in the home half of the seventh starting with a Stainback single to centerfield. Payano followed with a line drive double to left sending Stainback to third. Avea doubled on a deep fly ball to left to score Payano only after shortstop Osvaldo Duarte pushed Stainback in with a sacrifice fly.
The Astros capped off their scoring efforts with three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth beginning with Martir reaching on a throwing error. Payano moved Martir to second with a single to left then was followed by Duarte, who walked, and Avea who singled in Martir and Payano.
Third baseman Randy Cesar boomed a double to left to plate Duarte for the eighth and final Astros run. The double was Cesar's fifth and prolonged his streak of consecutive games with a hit to eleven.
Hernandez limited the Blue Jays to just two hits in the last four frames with eight total strikeouts to earn the save.
The Astros were led offensively by Avea who was three-for-four with a double, a run scored and three RBI. Stainback followed by recording two hits in three at-bats with two runs scored while Payano was two-for-four with a double and two runs scored. Martir went one-for-three with a run scored and a RBI.
Garcia and Roa were each one-for-four with Garcia recording a RBI and Roa scoring a run. Cesar's double made him one-for-five with one RBI and Duarte added a run with two RBI.
The Astros will begin a three-game home series with the Burlington Royals beginning on Friday with a 7 PM scheduled first pitch.
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 Jose Hernandez (Hunter Reed) |
Appalachian League Stories from July 23, 2015
- Astros Take Series Finale over Blue Jays, 8-1 - Greeneville Astros
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