
Astros Take Series in 8-1 Win over Pirates
August 9, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Bristol, VA - The Appalachian League West-leading Greeneville Astros (24-20) took a decisive 8-1 victory over the Bristol Pirates (20-23) at Boyce Cox Field on Sunday afternoon.
The bulk of the Astros' scoring came in two multiple-run innings to support the efforts on the mound by four different pitchers. Twentieth-round selection Makay Nelson (0-2, 5.75 ERA) took the start pitching three scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out one batter.
With Nelson still on the mound, the Astros took a convincing lead with four runs on three hits and two Pirate errors in the top of the third. Shortstop Osvaldo Duarte led off with a lined single to center then reached third when Myles Straw took second on an error. Connor Goedert reached first on another error one out later as Duarte scored.
Brauly Mejia followed with a line drive double, his 10th of the year, to right field to score Straw and give the Astros a two-run lead. Kyle Tucker knocked his third double of 2015 to right to score Mejia after Goedert crossed the plate during a Kevin Martir groundout.
Greeneville improved upon their 4-0 lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning after Daz Cameron led off the frame with a single then stole his sixth base of the season. Mejia slashed a one-out single to right to score Cameron and the Astros' fifth run.
Left-handed prospect Matt Bower (1-0, 1.00 ERA) picked up his first win of 2015 in relief of Nelson. The Washington State University product pitched three innings, allowed only two hits and struck out three batters.
Righty Andrew Thome (0-1, 1.20 ERA) took the mound in the seventh and eighth innings allowing two hits and striking out one batter. The Astros backed Thome with a three-run burst in the top of the eighth frame.
The Greeneville scoring effort was spurred by a two-out, line drive single to centerfield by Tucker. Second baseman Ford Stainback knocked his fourth double of 2015 to left to move Tucker third. Tucker and Stainback both scored on a home run to right-center by Rodrigo Ayarza, who recently returned to the Astros after a stint in the Gulf Coast League.
Samil De Los Santos (1-3, 5.11 ERA) came on for the Astros in the ninth inning and retired the Pirates in order after allowing one run on a homer by Henrry Rosario. The right-hander finished the night with one run allowed on one hit and three strikeouts.
Tucker paced the Greeneville bats going three-for-four with a double, a run, one stolen base and a RBI followed by Mejia who was two-for-four with double, a run scored and two RBI. Ayarza, Duarte and Stainback each went one-for-four with runs scored as Ayarza notched three RBI with his home run.
Cameron finished the night one-for-five with a run scored and his sixth stolen base of the season. Straw and Goedert each scored one run.
The Astros begin a split series with the Elizabethton Twins in a doubleheader at Elizabethton on Monday, then return to Pioneer Park on Tuesday 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.
Appalachian League Stories from August 9, 2015
- Astros Take Series in 8-1 Win over Pirates - Greeneville Astros
- Yankees Take Series from D-Braves, Braves Fall 8-2 - Danville Otterbots
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