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ApL Kingsport Axmen

Axmen Rally Comes up Short against Otterbots

July 2, 2021 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Kingsport Axmen News Release


KINGSPORT, TN - Despite smacking a franchise-record three home runs, the Kingsport Axmen fell to the Danville Otterbots, 11-9, Friday night at Hunter Wright Stadium.

With the Axmen (11-14) trailing by three runs in the ninth, designated hitter Hunter Fitz-Gerald crushed a solo blast over the leftfield wall. Fitz-Gerald's roundtripper was his second in as many starts.

One inning prior, leftfielder Pablo Ruiz drilled his first Appalachian League homer. The two-run shot trimmed the game to 11-8 with six outs remaining.

MJ Rodriguez sparked Kingsport's home run derby in the first inning. Rodriguez clubbed a 1-0 fastball 408 feet over the leftfield fence, igniting the Axmen dugout.

Kingsport led the Otterbots (11-14) early, jumping out to a 6-1 lead after four frames.

Danville scored a run in the opening inning on a groundball before the Axmen answered with three in the bottom half.

In the third, Fitz-Gerald padded Kingsport's advantage to 4-1, tallying his second RBI of the night after a run-scoring double in the first. Two innings later, Axmen leadoff man JonJon Berring lined a single into center, plating catcher Ben Rozenblum. Dante Leach followed and pushed another tally across, extending the lead to 6-1.

Kingsport's starting pitcher Peyton Carson dazzled across the first five innings, surrendering just one run. The southpaw struck out three and issued zero walks.

Right-hander Adam Parra tossed a scoreless sixth on just 10 pitches.

Danville rallied in the seventh, grabbing its first lead since the top of the first. The Otterbots flipped a five-run deficit into a five-run lead in the inning.

Kingsport brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth but the visitors got out of the jam to force the series split.

Next, the Axmen open up a home-and-home against the Bluefield Ridge Runners, beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday in West Virginia. Kingsport returns to Hunter Wright Stadium for the Fourth of July. A fireworks extravaganza presented by Ingles will follow Sunday's 7 p.m. contest.

All Kingsport Axmen games are broadcast here with a video stream available online for home games.

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