Austin Delivers Game-Winning Hit to Down Blue Jays
July 21, 2011 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Pulaski Mariners News Release
Pulaski, VA (July 21, 2011) - The Pulaski Mariners picked up their second consecutive win Thursday night against the Bluefield Blue Jays, scoring final win in walk-off fashion. Both teams swapped the lead a few times throughout the game, but the Mariners got the last laugh with timely hitting as they went on the win the game 5-4.
The Blue Jays took the early lead in the second inning. After Leo Hernandez reached on an error, Chris Hawkins belted his fourth home run of the season. The two run home run put Bluefield up 2-0 after two.
Hawkins would double in his third RBI of the night in the fourth inning to boost the Blue Jays' lead to three. Alfredo Morales got the offense kick started for the Mariners in the fourth inning with his first homerun of the season as a Mariner. Jordy Lara would follow the solo home run with a walk, and would later come around to score on an RBI double by Daniel Paolini to make the score 3-2.
With the score 4-2 in the Blue Jays favor going into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Mariners would start a rally in the inning and comeback to tied the game at four runs apiece. Jamal Austin doubled to start the inning off for Pulaski. After a fly out by Guillermo Pimentel, Jean Acevedo delivered an RBI single that would score Austin to bring the Blue Jays lead down to one. Acevedo would advance on an error by the centerfielder and a wild pitch to put him on third base with one out in the eighth inning. He would score the game tying run on a sacrifice fly by Jordy Lara to tie the game 4-4 going into the ninth.
Kyle Hunter, who came in the game in the sixth inning, got the first out of the ninth inning for the Mariners and was then relieved by John Taylor. Taylor faced three batters, gave up one hit, and struck out the final batter in the inning to keep the score tied at four going into the bottom of the ninth.
The first two batters for the Mariners were shut down quickly, leaving the hometown fans wondering if late game heroics were in the cards tonight or not. As they say, good things come to those who wait. That saying can quickly become a reality especially when Jamal Austin, who leads the league in batting average, is soon due up. Next batter Bryan Brito hit a double to right field to put a runner in scoring position for the Mariners with two out. Jamal Austin was due up after Brito. As he walked to the plate with his bat in hand and his .400 average on the line, the crowd took to their feet in hopes they would see walk-off magic at Historic Calfee Park. After taking the first pitch for a ball, Austin swung at the second pitch and blasted a shot over the right fielder's head that would score Brito from second and win the game for the Mariners.
John Taylor (1-0) received his first win of the season for the Mariners, while Ian Kadish (2-2) was hit with his second loss of the season. The Pulaski Mariners and the Bluefield Blue Jays will do battle again tomorrow night at Calfee Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Appalachian League Stories from July 21, 2011
- Clutch Hitting Ignites Danville to 5-4 Win - Danville Otterbots
- Austin Delivers Game-Winning Hit to Down Blue Jays - Pulaski Mariners
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