ApL Kingsport Axmen

Lupo Steals Home to Win It for K-Mets

Published on August 17, 2014 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Kingsport Axmen News Release


KINGSPORT, Tenn (August 16, 2014) - A gamble on the basepaths helped keep the Kingsport Mets in control of their own destiny in the push to make the Appalachian League playoffs.

Vicente Lupo stole home with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, capping a dramatic comeback as the K-Mets beat the Greeneville Astros 4-3 on Saturday evening at Hunter Wright Stadium.

Kingsport (30-26) has won five in a row and nine of its past 10, and remains in sole possession of second place in the Appy's West Division. Greeneville falls two back of second with the loss. The top two finishers in each division reach the postseason and with less than two weeks to go in the season, the race is coming down to the wire.

Kingsport took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when a sacrifice fly scored Luis Guillorme and for the majority of the game it looked like one run might be enough. Persio Reyes worked six shutout innings as the starter, but Greeneville rallied for three runs in the seventh.

Scoring all of their runs without tallying a hit in the frame, the Astros took advantage of five combined walks by two K-Met pitchers, along with a sacrifice bunt, a hit batsman and an unlikely fielder's choice on a flyball into left field.

Kingsport engineered its comeback in the ninth off Astros hurler Samil De Los Santos. Oswald Caraballo singled to lead off the inning, and scored from first on a gap double by Eudor Garcia. Branden Kaupe replaced Garcia as the pinch runner, and scored on a double by Lupo that tied the game.

Lupo reached third on a wild pitch and, after back-to-back strikeouts by De Los Santos, K-Mets manager Jose Leger decided to take a chance. Lupo broke from home a couple of pitches into the at-bat by Kingsport pinch hitter Luis Ortega. De Los Santos' throw was late and the catcher couldn't corral it, and Lupo scored in one of the most memorable finishes ever at Hunter Wright Stadium.

Craig Missigman (1-0) got credit for the win after pitching a scoreless ninth inning. De Los Santos (0-1) was on the hook for the loss and the blown save.

The K-Mets play at Greeneville Sunday, then return home to play the Astros Monday and Tuesday in the final head-to-head meetings of the 2014 season.

K-METRIC: After walking five times in five plate appearances during Friday's win over Bristol, Lupo's bases-on-balls marathon continued Saturday. He walked twice in four appearances on Saturday, in addition to doubling home the tying run in that ninth-inning comeback.

NOTES: Garcia had a good night, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. He also had the run-scoring sac fly in the first. ... The K-Mets did not commit an error. ... Reyes had more hit-by-pitches (3) than hits or walks. ... Kingsport outhit Greeneville by a 7-3 margin.

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Appalachian League Stories from August 17, 2014


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