ApL Kingsport Axmen

Jays Survive Finale, Beat K-Mets 6-4

July 27, 2016 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Kingsport Axmen News Release


KINGSPORT, Tenn.-After a promising start to the bottom of the ninth inning for Kingsport, the Bluefield Blue Jays were able to hold on to take home a 6-4 Game 3 decision after an illegal slide from Ricardo Cespedes infringed on Major League Baseball's newest amendment this past off season, the 'Chase Utley Rule.'

Coming to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning, the K-Mets (13-20) trailed Bluefield (16-16) by two runs at 6-4. Rafael Ramirez led off the inning with a walk and then Ricardo Cespedes singled a batter later to put runners at the corners with no outs.

Walter Rasquin then came to the plate representing the tying run. The designated hitter would hit a ball softly on the ground to Nash Knight at second base. Knight fielded the ball, flipped to Jesus Severino at the second base bag for one out, but the return throw to first base appeared to be late as it looked as if Rasquin beat out what would have been a 4-6-3 double play.

Mark Bass, who served as the field umpire during the contest, called both Cespedes and Rasquin out immediately because of the illegal slide Cespedes performed at second base in an attempted to break up the double play. Ramirez, who came into to score on the groundball, was waved out of the dugout and put back on third base.

Instead of what initially looked like a run-scoring fielder's choice by Rasquin, the play turned into a runner's interference double play as the run was waved off the scoreboard and Ramirez was forced to go back to third base.

A batter later, Reed Gamache struck out to end the game on four pitches.

The new rule imposed during the offseason in reaction to the Dodgers' Chase Utley and his aggressive slide into the Mets' Ruben Tejada during the 2015 NLDS, has already caused a bit of controversy at the Major League level and has effected a number of Minor League contests as well, just as it did in the finale of a three-game series between the Bluefield Blue Jays and the Kingsport Mets Wednesday night.

Nonetheless, Kingsport drops its third series in-a-row and are now just 2-7 in their last nine contests after going 6-3 in the three series prior over the Danville Braves, Bristol Pirates, and the Burlington Royals.

Prior to the ninth inning drama, Bluefield struck first in the top of the first inning as Reggie Pruitt scored from third base on a passed ball from K-Mets' starter Adonis Uceta (2-4) and catcher Jose Maria. Pruitt tallied the first run of the contest in both Game 2 and 3 on a passed ball from third base.

Another run would be scored in the top of the second inning for the Blue Jays when Levi Scott scored on an RBI single from Jesus Severino. Prior to the run-scoring hit, Scott made his way from first base to second on a wild pitch and second base to third on a passed ball. Both runs scored by Bluefield in the opening two innings were unearned towards Uceta.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning, Kingsport would cut the lead in half when Maria led off the frame with a walk and came around to score on an RBI ground out from Franklin Correa who was competing in his first game since missing the eight games prior due to injury.

A quiet third inning from both squads would set up a four-run scoring effort for Bluefield in the top of the fourth inning.

Scott would lead off the frame with a double to right field and would advance to third base on a single from Matt Morgan who followed behind. Severino would then single once more to left field, bringing in Scott from third base for the short stop's second RBI of the contest.

Two batters later, Lance Jones would single to right field to bring in Morgan form third base. Later in the inning, Vladimir Guererro Jr. would hit a ball sharply on the ground in-between Correa and Yeffrey De Aza on the right side of the infield. Correa would make a diving stop, but the throw to first base was off target allowing both Severino and Jones to score runs five and six on the day for Bluefield.

A couple of innings later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Jose Miguel Medina would single to plate Gamache from second base and in the eighth inning, the K-Mets would tack on another two runs by way of an RBI single from Anthony Dimino and a run-scoring fielder's choice from Medina once more.

Bluefield won the contest 6-4 to take the series two games to one over Kingsport. The Blue Jays have now won two in-a-row and are winners of six games in their last 10 contests.

Though Uceta was charged with the loss after going just four innings on the mound, the right-handed pitcher yielded only one earned run of the six runs charged while also striking out a season-high eight batters at the plate. Joe Napolitano, Trent Johnson and Adrian Almeida combined to toss the final five scoreless innings on the mound while giving up only one hit between the three.

Kingsport's four pitchers on the night combined to strikeout a total of 16 batters.

Bluefield's starter Yennsy Diaz (2-3) took home the win after pitching five innings of two-run baseball. The righty punched out five on the night while walking an additional three batters. Brayden Bouchey was credited the hold after tossing two innings of two-run ball while Connor Eller picked up his third save of the season.

For the second straight night, Gamache recorded three hits while only four other K-Mets tallied hits on the night. Medina drove in two runs during the loss as Dimino and Correa also recorded an RBI apiece.

The Kingsport Mets will travel to Johnson City on Thursday to take part in a double header at TVA Credit Union Ballpark with the first pitch of Game 1 scheduled for 6:00 p.m. A live broadcast of the game can be found at kmets.com or on the TuneIn application beginning at 5:45 p.m. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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