Cardinals Top Astros, 5-3, in 13 Innings
August 16, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Luis Payano of the Greeneville Astros
(Greeneville Astros, Credit: Hunter Reed)
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros lost to the Johnson City Cardinals 5-3 in a 13-inning ballgame on Sunday night. The loss drops the Astros' season record to an even 26-26 and places them in third place in the Appalachian League West division, two games behind the Kingsport Mets and Elizabethton Twins.
Albert Abreu got the start for the Astros and was very effective through his four innings pitched. He allowed just one hit and one run while striking out four Cardinal batters. Abreu now leads the Astros in innings pitched (40.2) and strikeouts (41).
Johnson City scored first on a groundball single off the bat of Ricardo Bautista to right field which plated Luke Doyle. However, the Astros responded quickly by scoring three runs in three innings to gain the lead and swing the momentum in their favor.
Luis Payano scored a run in the third inning off an errant throw from catcher Chris Rivera, and again in the fifth inning on a wild pitch from Juan Bautista. Randy Cesar also scored from third base on a Kyle Tucker groundout in the fourth to give the Astros a 3-1 lead.
After the Cardinals had gotten one run back in the top of the seventh on a Ricardo Bautista single, the Astros looked to preserve their one-run lead in the top of the ninth and stop their three-game losing skid. The big right-hander Samil De Los Santos entered to game to take over on the mound and the odds looked good at Pioneer Park. However, the Cardinals were able to push across a run on a double play ball to tie up the game at 3-3 and send it to extra innings.
The Astros and Cardinals remained deadlocked through the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth innings with both sides putting runners on the bases but not being able to bring them home.
The Cardinals finally broke through in the top of the 13th inning and took a two-run lead over the Astros after a Hunter Newman double to left field and a bases loaded walk. The Astros got two men aboard in the bottom of the 13th but were unable to rally a run home and lost the game 5-3.
The Astros will take on the Johnson City Cardinals again on Monday, August 17th at Pioneer Park for game two of the three-game series. Game time will be at 7:00 PM with gates opening at 6:00 PM.
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
 Greeneville Astros Pitcher Samil De Los Santos (Hunter Reed) |
 Luis Payano of the Greeneville Astros (Hunter Reed) |
Appalachian League Stories from August 16, 2015
- Cardinals Top Astros, 5-3, in 13 Innings - Greeneville Astros
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