Hernandez helps lift Astros to 5-3 win over Twins-3
August 16, 2014 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Elizabethton, TN - The Greeneville Astros (27-26) stopped a four-game skid on Friday night by traveling to Joe O'Brien Field and defeating the Appalachian League West-leading Elizabethton Twins (31-23), 5-3. Jacob Nottingham homered and Elieser Hernandez pitched five scoreless innings to pace the Astros in the important road win.
The Nottingham homerun was a solo shot to lead off the fourth inning and break a scoreless tie. It was a lead the Astros would never surrender despite the tough competition.
The next inning, Kristian Trompiz led off with a double, moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an Edwin Medina RBI single. The run gave the Astros a 2-0 lead, but Trompiz likely made his most important contributions to the team with his outstanding defensive play at shortstop throughout the night.
With the help of Trompiz and others, right-hander Elieser Hernandez pitched five scoreless innings in his first Appalachian League start for the Astros. During that time, he also struck out six batters.
While the Twins picked up three hits and drew two walks on Hernandez, they were unable to score with him in the game. However, after his departure in the sixth, they broke through with consecutive doubles by Jorge Fernandez and Brian Navarreto to get on the scoreboard and cut the Astros lead to 2-1.
In the seventh inning, both teams ultimately canceled each other out with two runs apiece. First, the Astros' Hector Roa scored from second on a Twins error and Cesar Carrasco scored on an Antonio Nunez sacrifice bunt. Then, the Twins quickly answered with a Tanner English RBI triple and a Trey Vavra RBI single that still left them down by one run, 4-3.
After holding onto their slim lead through the seventh inning, Sean McMullen helped to give the Astros a little more cushion in the eighth. Following the Twins fourth error, which allowed McMullen to get on base, he scored on a wild pitch to give the Astros a two-run advantage.
The Astros would maintain that two-run lead over the final two innings as Juan Delis and Zach Davis combined to hold the Twins without another base runner the rest of the way. Davis closed the game and picked up his fourth save of the year while Hernandez, who started, earned the win.
The Astros will begin a four-game split series with the Kingsport Mets on Saturday at 6:00pm at Hunter Wright Stadium. Then, on Sunday, the Astros will return home for a single game against the Mets before going back to Kingsport on Monday and Tuesday.
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Appalachian League Stories from August 16, 2014
- Mets rally to defeat Astros, 4-3, with 3-run 9th inning - Greeneville Astros
- Braves Pull off Late Comeback, Sweep Royals in Five - Danville Otterbots
- Hernandez helps lift Astros to 5-3 win over Twins-3 - Greeneville Astros
- Mariners Fall in High-Scoring Game - Pulaski Mariners
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