ApL Kingsport Axmen

Late Runs Prevail for Bristol in 11-5 Win

July 14, 2016 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Kingsport Axmen News Release


KINGSPORT, Tenn.- The Bristol Pirates snapped their four-game losing streak in a big way Thursday night as the club tallied 11 runs off 10 hits, including six runs in the final three innings, to take down the Kingsport Mets 11-5 in Game 2 from Hunter Wright Stadium.

A scoreless first inning was in store as neither team could do much of anything offensively following the hour and 20 minute delay that pushed first pitch to 8:20 p.m. Both starters, Kingsport's (8-12) Chris Viall and Bristol's (9-11) Matt Eckelman, sat down their side in order while accumulating three strikeouts amongst the two.

Viall would then run into trouble to begin the top of the second inning as the righty allowed a hit, sacrifice fly and three walks in the frame as the Pirates took a 3-0 lead. Both Jhoan Herrera and Alexis Bastardo scored from third base on wild pitches while a Julio De La Cruz groundout to third base to plate Victor Fernandez.

The Pirates would tack on another two runs in the inning that followed as Bastardo delivered a two-run single to left field to score both Raul Siri and Andrian Valerio who were on the base paths.

The five-run lead would hold true until Kingsport came around to hit in the bottom of the fifth inning. Franklin Correa would lead off the frame with a line-drive home run over the wall in left field. The blast was his second of the season and gave the K-Mets their first run of the ballgame at 5-1.

Walter Rasquin tallied his second single of the day two batters later. Kingsport's No. 9 slugger, Cecilio Aybar, would then triple down the right field line to score Rasquin all the way from first base. As the lineup card flipped, Ian Strom sent a deep fly ball to center field, allowing Aybar to trot in from third base on the sacrifice.

Ricardo Cespedes would then walk and move to third base on a base-hit single from Reed Gamache. The single was Gamache's first hit at Hunter Wright Stadium since being called up from the Gulf Coast League on July 9.

A two-run double from Dionis Rodriguez would then cap the five-run inning for Kingsport as the K-Mets battled all the way back to tie the game at five runs apiece heading into the sixth inning.

Following a scoreless sixth inning, Trent Johnson (0-1) would come onto pitch the top of the seventh inning for Kingsport. After allowing a leadoff single, the former Santa Fe Community College star would retire the next two Pirate batters via a strikeout and a fly out.

Valerio would then come to the plate and to single in Michael De La Cruz who led off the inning with a base-hit and who had moved all the way to third base since on two stolen bases. Bristol held a one-run lead at 6-5 halfway through the seventh inning.

An additional three runs would cross the plate for the Pirates in the inning that followed as Bastardo and Michael De LA Cruz each tallied RBI singles and Brent Gibbs scored on a passed ball.

In the top of the ninth inning, Julio De La Cruz would send a 2-1 pitch from Adrian Almeida over the left-center field wall for a two-run home run. The lead was now at six for Bristol as that was the final scoring play of the night during the Pirates 11-6 win.

Johnson took the loss for Kingsport after pitching two innings of work out of the bullpen. The first-year player surrendered one run off two hits while also tallying a strikeout in the outing. Adam Oller (1-0) took home the win for the Pirates after pitching the final four innings of the ballgame. The righty yielded just two hits, both by Rasquiin, and struck out seven Kingsport Mets during his scoreless outing.

Rasquin led the way for the K-Mets at the plate on the night by going 4-for-4 with four singles to left field and a run scored. Aybar finished the contest 1-for-4 with an RBI triple and Rodriguez ended the night with a 1-for-3 effort, including a two-run double. Correa tallied a home run in the loss.

For Bristol, Bastardo finished the night 2-for-3 with three RBIs while Julio De La Cruz hit a two-run homer.

Game 3 of the series is set for 7 p.m., Friday night, at Hunter Wright Stadium. The contest will serve as "Fun Friday" as there will be a postgame firework show following the contest. Gates will begin opening at 6 p.m. and a live broadcast can be found at kmets.com or on the TuneIn application beginning at 6:45 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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Appalachian League Stories from July 14, 2016


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