ApL Bristol State Liners

Error Costs Pirates

Published on July 31, 2019 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Bristol State Liners News Release


A ninth-inning error proved costly for the Bristol Pirates on Tuesday night, as they dropped the series opener with the Greeneville Reds 8-7.

The Pirates trailed 5-0 after four innings, as the Reds connected for three home runs off Bristol starter Dante Mendoza. Third baseman Aaron Shackelford and shortstop Francisco Acuna put the first runs on the board for the Pirates with back-to-back RBI groundouts in the bottom of the fourth, but another Reds home run would make it a 6-2 game after five innings. Shackelford and Acuna would drive in two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, and an RBI double by designated hitter Matt Morrow made it a 6-5 game heading into the top of the seventh.

The Reds and Pirates traded runs in the seventh inning before center fielder Jean Eusebio tied the game on a bunt single in the bottom of the eighth. Reds shortstop Ivan Johnson led off the top of the ninth with a walk, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt before stealing third. Johnson would then score the go-ahead run with two outs in the inning as first baseman Garrett Wolforth reached on a throwing error. Right fielder Fernando Villegas reached first on a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth, but he was unable to score as the Pirates dropped their second straight game.

Samson Abernathy took the loss for Bristol, allowing one unearned run on one walk while striking out two in one inning of work. Mendoza allowed five runs on four hits and a walk over four innings, while also striking out five batters for the third time in his last four starts. Making his home debut, Matt Eardensohn allowed two runs -- one earned -- on two hits while striking out three over a career-high four innings.

Villegas led the Pirates in the loss, finishing 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and two runs scored. Eusebio finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, while left fielder Jake Snider was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Shackelford and Acuna led the Pirates with two RBI each, with Acuna also scoring two runs in the loss.

The Pirates (18-21) will try to even up the series on Wednesday when they send Adrian Florencio to the mound against Greeneville. It will be the third time Florencio has faced Greeneville this season, as he is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA and four strikeouts over nine innings against the Reds.

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Appalachian League Stories from July 31, 2019


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