Homers by De La Cruz, Sierra power Astros to first win
June 25, 2016 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - Coming off a tough home opener loss, the Greeneville Astros had their sights set on redemption against the Johnson City Cardinals. The Astros muscled their way towards their first win of the season and survived a late inning scare in front of an exhilarating home crowd.
The Cardinals struck early, scoring the first run of the game due to an error that put a runner in scoring position. After two quick groundouts the Cardinals suddenly held a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Astros struggled to pick up a hit as they were retired in order. Then, starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval got into some trouble in the second inning when the Cardinals had the bases loaded with only one out. After a walk, sacrifice fly and a double the Astros were facing a five run deficit.
Unwilling to give up, the Astros started chipping away with a pair of doubles by starting first baseman Spencer Johnson and left fielder Chaz Pal. After a Ruben Castro single through the left side of the infield the Astros found themselves down 5-2 through two innings.
The next four innings saw action from only the home team as the Astros mounted their comeback, tying the game at five runs apiece through six innings. Small ball played an influential role as all three Astros runs were scored with walks and base hits.
The Cardinals eventually answered back scoring a run in both the seventh and eighth innings at the mercy of walks, hit batters and singles just as the Astros did earlier in the contest. The Astros flexed their muscles resulting in a pair of homers from newcomers Bryan De La Cruz and Miguelangel Sierra. De La Cruz led the inning off with a solo shot and Sierra finished the inning strong with a two-out, three-run homerun giving the Astros a 9-7 lead heading into the ninth inning.
Reliever Howie Brey entered in the top of the ninth to close out the game and pick up a home win for the Astros. After retiring the first two batters and pulling within one out of the win, Brey surrendered a solo homerun and a walk before retiring the last batter and securing the save.
Right-handed pitcher Tyler Britton, who was the Astros' 23rd round selection in the June draft, notched the win in his first professional outing. He pitched one-and-two-thirds innings and surrendered just one unearned run on one hit.
The Astros look to take the series tomorrow sending Ricardo Castro to the mound with a scheduled first pitch time set for 6:00 pm. Fans should make sure to arrive early as a limited quantity of 2015 replica championship banners, presented by Laughlin Memorial Hospital, will be given out in the first of six Saturday giveaway days.
Appalachian League Stories from June 25, 2016
- Yankees Avoid Series Sweep - Pulaski River Turtles
- Rondon Rains on Burlington in 16-2 Victory - Princeton WhistlePigs
- Homers by De La Cruz, Sierra power Astros to first win - Greeneville Astros
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