Ayarza's Sac Fly Lifts Astros to 3-2 Win over Twins
August 24, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Rodrigo Ayarza of the Greeneville Astros
(Greeneville Astros, Credit: Hunter Reed)
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros came from behind to defeat the Elizabethton Twins Monday night by a score of 3-2. The victory raises the Astros' season record to 30-29 and brings them within one game of the Twins (31-28) for second place in the Appalachian League West and a potential playoff berth.
Carlos Hiraldo received the win for the Astros on the mound. Appearing in his first game for Greeneville after being called up from the Gulf Coast League, the 19-year-old left-hander from the Dominican Republic pitched three innings and allowed just one run. The Astros expect to continue to see solid pitching from Hiraldo as he carved up batters in the Gulf Coast League, boasting a 2.04 ERA with 24 strikeouts before being called up.
Edgardo Sandoval got the start for the Astros and allowed just two hits over his five innings of work while striking out a season-high six batters. Sandoval has provided much needed late season support for the Astros on the mound, maintaining a 1.38 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 13 innings pitched.
The Twins were the first to score in the game. Alex Perez came in to score on a Zander Wiel groundball double play in the fourth, and Jermaine Palacios scored on a Zander Wiel sacrifice fly in the sixth.
However, from then on the Astros dominated the scoreboard. Greeneville tied things up with a two-run bottom of the sixth and then took a one-run lead in the eighth. Myles Straw led off the sixth inning by ripping a groundball single past the shortstop and then stealing his Appalachian League-leading 20th base of the season. Randy Cesar followed by reaching on an errant throw from Twins second baseman Alex Perez which allowed Straw to score from second. Kyle Tucker then came up and singled home Cesar to tie the game at 2-2.
The Astros scored one more run in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Connor Goedert led off with a line drive single to centerfield and was moved over to third on a Kyle Tucker double to right. Finally, with one out, Rodrigo Ayarza sent a flyball to left field deep enough for Goedert to tag and score from third for the go-ahead run.
Samil De Los Santos came in to pitch the ninth inning and struck out the side to end the game and pick up his third save of the year.
Kyle Tucker went two-for-four on the night with a double, a RBI, and a stolen base. Through his 22 games played for the Astros this season, Tucker has posted a batting average of .282 with eight doubles, 14 RBI, and eight stolen bases.
Rodrigo Ayarza also had a multi-hit night at the dish, going two-for-three with the game-winning RBI in the eighth inning.
The Astros will look to decide the series with the Twins on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM. Gates will open at 6:00 PM. It will be Greene Night at the ballpark where fans are encouraged to bring any recyclable materials to the stadium prior to game time and all stadium materials will be recycled.
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
 Rodrigo Ayarza of the Greeneville Astros (Hunter Reed) |
Appalachian League Stories from August 24, 2015
- Ayarza's Sac Fly Lifts Astros to 3-2 Win over Twins - Greeneville Astros
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