Blue Jays rally to defeat Astros, 6-3, with 6-run 9th inning
August 24, 2014 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros (30-31) carried a 3-0 lead over the Bluefield Blue Jays (30-33) into the ninth inning on Sunday night at Pioneer Park, but a six-run ninth inning rally propelled the Blue Jays to an improbable 6-3 win. With the loss, the Astros are now two games behind the Johnson City Cardinals and Kingsport Mets for the final playoff spot in the Appalachian League West.
The majority of the game went well for the Astros. Yonathan Mejia put them up early with a first inning RBI single. Then, Kristian Trompiz added his own RBI single in the fifth inning. Finally, Cesar Carrasco scored on a Jeffry Santos ground out to give the Astros their three-run lead.
The starting pitcher for the Astros, Harold Arauz, cruised through six scoreless innings while only allowing two hits with no walks and five strikeouts. In his first two Appalachian League appearances since coming up from the Gulf Coast League, Arauz has now pitched a total of 9.2 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts while allowing just one walk and four hits.
After Arauz departed the game, the Astros were able to maintain their 3-0 lead through the seventh and eighth innings without much trouble. However, after getting a ground out from the leadoff man to start the ninth, the game suddenly turned.
Two hit batters, two stolen bases, and a wild pitch left the Blue Jays with runners at second and third with one out. Another wild pitch got them their first run. Then, after the next batter was walked, back-to-back RBI singles by Rolando Segovia and Lydell Moseby evened the score at 3-3. However, even after a fly out gave them two outs in the inning, the Blue Jays were still threatening.
With a runner at third, a RBI single by Kevin Garcia put the Blue Jays in the lead. Then, a fielding error allowed another run to score before an Austin Davis RBI single concluded the six-run outburst.
The winning pitcher for the Blue Jays was Kamakani Usui, who held the Astros hitless over the final two innings and picked up three strikeouts.
The Astros will face the Blue Jays in game two of their three-game series on Monday. Game time is set for 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 August 24, 2014
- Mariners Drop Series to Twins, 9-2 - Pulaski Mariners
- Pulaski Defeats Burlington, 6-3 - Pulaski Mariners
- Blue Jays rally to defeat Astros, 6-3, with 6-run 9th inning - Greeneville Astros
- D-Braves split doubleheader to start road trip - Danville Otterbots
- Astros split two games with Rays - Greeneville Astros
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