Astros win on Joyce walk-off hit
July 9, 2012 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros and Bristol Sox played a close game at Pioneer Park on Monday night. It came down to the final swing of the bat and a walk-off hit by Astros outfielder Terrell Joyce in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Greeneville a 6-5 victory.
The first four innings were scoreless, but then Bristol took advantage of their opportunities in the fifth. With runners at second and third, the Sox scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch. Then, Nicholas Basto hit a sacrifice fly to score another run and give Bristol a 2-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, the Astros got their bats going and scored some runs of their own. D'Andre Toney led off with a bunt to get on base and then stole second. Following a Marc Wik walk, a sacrifice bunt by Brian Blasik moved both runners over and Bristol made a pitching change. Then Terrell Joyce got a two-run hit to even the game, but the Astros were not done. A few batters later, Greeneville had the bases loaded with two outs for Ricky Gingras. Then, a double from Gingras cleared to bases to score three more runs and put the Astros up 5-2.
In the top half of the next inning, the Sox bounced right back to cut the Greeneville lead to one. Bristol loaded the bases and got a two-run single from Angel Rosario, leaving the Sox trailing 5-4 during the seventh inning stretch.
After a scoreless eighth inning, Bristol got a double from Eric Grabe to deep center field. Grabe then moved over to third on a wild pitch and took advantage of a scoring opportunity as the ball scooted past the catcher when his teammate Cory Farris struck out swinging.
With the score tied at 5-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Astros needed a run to avoid extra innings. Marc Wik led off with a high hopping base hit towards third base. Then, Brian Blasik laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Wik to second. With Terrell Joyce at the plate, Bristol threw a wild pitch to move Wik over the third. Finally, the Sox pitched to Joyce and he made them pay with a walk-off single on a ground ball to right field that scored Wik.
Overall, six Astros pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts on the night. Greeneville reliever Mike Hauschild got the win after giving up one hit, one run and striking out three in his one inning of work.
The Astros, along with the rest of the Appalachian League, are off on Tuesday. The next series for the second place Astros will match them up with the division leading Elizabethton Twins for three games at Pioneer Park beginning Wednesday at 7:00pm. For more information on the Greeneville Astros, please visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
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Appalachian League Stories from July 9, 2012
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