Mathis delivers walk-off hit for Astros in 10th inning
August 25, 2013 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros (36-27) provided a dramatic finish to their game with the Appalachian League East Division leading Bluefield Blue Jays (40-22) on Sunday night at Pioneer Park. In the bottom of the 10th inning, with two outs, Astros' outfielder Tanner Mathis delivered a walk-off RBI single to give the Astros a 4-3 win. Coupled with a loss by the Kingsport Mets, the Astros' win puts them back on top of the Appalachian League West Division by a half-game with five games left in the regular season.
After two scoreless innings to begin the game, the East Division-leading Blue Jays got a leadoff double from Andres Sotillo in the top of the third inning to give them a runner in scoring position. Then, with two outs, Derrick Loveless hit a RBI triple to give the Blue Jays their first score, and Mitch Nay followed with a RBI single to put the Blue Jays on top 2-0.
Two innings later, in the fifth, Juan Santana got on base with a single and Edwin Gomez was hit by a pitch to give the Astros two base runners. Then, Chase McDonald hit a deep fly ball that bounced off the right field wall for a two-run triple to tie the game at 2-2.
In the top of the ninth inning, with the score was still even, the Blue Jays got a leadoff double from Matt Dean. Then, after Alexis Maldonado moved him over to third on a ground ball single, Dean scored on a ground out by John Silviano to give the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead.
Down to their final three outs, the Astros caught a break when Juan Santana got on base after a fielding error by Bluefield at third base. Then, after a sacrifice bunt by Edwin Gomez and a Chase McDonald ground out, Santana advanced all the way around to third. Finally, with Angel Ibanez batting, a wild pitch gave Santana a chance to head home, even the score at 3-3 and send the game into extra innings.
After Astros' reliever Raul Rivera got the Blue Jays to go three up, three down in the top of the tenth inning, the Astros had their chance for a walk-off win. With one out, Ariel Ovando was able to reach second base after a Blue Jays fielding error on a fly ball in left field. Then, Marc Wik came on to replace Ovando as a pinch runner. The next batter, Brian Holberton, was intentionally walked. Then, after a strikeout, Tanner Mathis came up to the plate and provided a dramatic walk-off single on a ground ball up the middle that squeezed in-between the shortstop and second baseman and allowed Wik to head home for the winning score.
Proving that they know how to win the close games this season, the Astros now have a 15-7 record playing in games decided by one run. Furthermore, in extra-inning games, the Astros are now 6-1.
The Astros will host the Blue Jays in game two of their three-game series on Monday at 7:00pm. For more information on the Greeneville Astros, please visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
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