Greeneville pitchers strike out 17 as Astros blast Mets, 12-3
August 19, 2014 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Kingsport, TN - The Greeneville Astros (28-28) scored eleven runs by the third inning and cruised to a 12-3 win over the Kingsport Mets (31-27) on Monday night at Hunter Wright Stadium. The win pulled the Astros within two games of the second-place Mets, who currently hold the final playoff spot in the Appalachian League West with ten games left to play.
After a scoreless first inning, Hector Roa got the Astros rolling with a solo homer to lead off the second. However, it was just the beginning. With Brett Clements batting, the Astros scored two more runs off a wild pitch and a passed ball. Then Kristian Trompiz drew a bases loaded walk, and Sean McMullen hit a sacrifice fly to give the Astros an early five-run lead.
After the Mets managed to get a RBI double from Jose Garcia in the bottom of the second, the Astros answered right back with six runs on three hits in the third inning. Two of those hits came courtesy of Cesar Carrasco and included a RBI single. However, the bulk of the runs in the inning came from good base running on a fielder's choice, a ground out, and three wild pitches that each resulted in a score.
Leading 11-1, the Astros added one more run on a solo shot by Ydarqui Marte to lead off the sixth inning. The home run was Marte's fourth of the season and put him in a tie for the team lead.
The Mets would go on to score two late runs on Astros' errors, but the game was already out of reach at that point.
Astros' batters collected a season-high 13 walks, three of which came from leadoff man Edwin Medina, and finished the game with 12 runs on eight hits. The Astros are now 5-0 when scoring 12 or more runs in a game this season.
While their offensive output helped them tie the third most runs they have had in a game, the Astros' pitching staff also played a major role in the victory. Juan Santos, Harold Arauz, Aaron Greenwood and Juan Delis combined for an Astros' season-high 17 strikeouts and held the Mets to one earned run on five hits with five walks.
Arauz, who was making his Appalachian League debut since joining Greeneville from the Gulf Coast League Astros on Sunday, was named the winning pitcher. He came on in relief of Santos in the third and held the Mets to just two hits as he pitched 3.2 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and one walk.
The Astros and Mets, who have split their season series at five games apiece, will square off for final time this season in Kingsport on Tuesday night at 7:00pm. Whichever team takes the series would have an advantage in the standings should a playoff berth come down to a head-to-head tiebreaker between the clubs.
Appalachian League Stories from August 19, 2014
- Mariners Sweep Doubleheader & Series against Danville - Pulaski Mariners
- Danville swept by Pulaski in series, doubleheader - Danville Otterbots
- Greeneville pitchers strike out 17 as Astros blast Mets, 12-3 - Greeneville Astros
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