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Mariners Complete Epic Comeback

July 22, 2014 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Pulaski Mariners News Release


The Pulaski Mariners were not content to settle for one game-ending win in their series against the Bluefield Blue Jays. The Calfee Park faithful celebrated the late-inning heroics of Jose Leal, Daniel Torres, and the entire team as Pulaski defeated Bluefield 7-6.

Daniel Missaki (2-0, 0.95 ERA) returned to the mound following a 20 day hiatus as he recovered from a forearm injury. Tethered to a conservative pitch count, Missaki lasted only two-plus innings-facing three Blue Jay batters in the third inning.

"It felt good to be back out there" said Missaki. "It was hard for me to find my release point, and I was getting tired near the end."

The rust of an extended break showed as Missaki allowed two runs on four hits and two walks. The two runs were the first allowed by Missaki this season.

The Mariners clung to a 4-2 lead after three complete. Pulaski scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Estarlyn Morales drove in Jay Baum to open the scoring, and Taylor Zeutenhorst singled neatly into left-center to drive home two.

The contest settled into a scoreless rhythm until the top of the seventh inning when Bluefield hung four on the board to take the lead. Luis Pina recorded only one out in the seventh when manager Rob Mummau elected to call on Jarret Brown.

Brown was unable to put out the fire, and two singles, a groundout, and a wild pitch led to four runs and a deflated Calfee Park.

Pulaski entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing the Blue Jays by two runs. Daniel Torres opened the frame by reaching on a fielding error by shortstop Aaron Attaway. Following a strikeout, Jose Leal stepped to the plate and belted a homer over the right field wall to tie the game and send the duel into extras.

"We've gotten used to coming back because we've been doing it all season" Torres said. "We never get discouraged regardless of the score."

The Mariners did not hesitate to begin the rally in the tenth. Jay Baum ripped Oscar Cabrera's (2-1, 1.40 ERA) offering off the third baseman's glove for a leadoff double. Cabrera then intentionally walked Wayne Taylor to set up the force play at third.

With runners at first and second, Carlton Tanabe laid down a perfect bunt to the right side of the infield to advance both runners. With a vacated base, Estarlyn Morales, the next batter, also drew an intentional walk to load the bases.

Cabrera struggled with his control against Torres. He fell behind 3-0 before pumping a fastball down the middle for the first strike of the at-bat. Torres would not allow Cabrera to throw another strike without punishing him-he drove the next delivery into left field for the game-winning RBI single.

"I was being patient up there" Torres said. "[Cabrera] was struggling up there, and he threw me the one that I got a good piece of it."

The Mariners utilized back-to-back walk-offs to take the series from Bluefield and improve the season record to (16-14). They travel to Bristol for a two game series before returning to Calfee Park on Thursday.



Appalachian League Stories from July 22, 2014


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