Thome, Astros Shutdown Rays
August 30, 2015 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville Astros Pitcher Andrew Thome
(Greeneville Astros, Credit: Hunter Reed)
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros defeated the Princeton Rays (36-30) on Sunday evening by a score of 6-2 thanks to a great start from pitcher Andrew Thome and aggressive baserunning. The victory keeps the Astros in playoff position at second place in the Appalachian League West division and raises their season record to 33-32.
With only three games remaining in the regular season, the Astros knew they would need to come out positive against the Rays. Greeneville struck early in the game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Tucker hit a sacrifice fly to score Myles Straw, and Arturo Michelena singled to right field to bring home Daz Cameron. Cameron swiped his first of two stolen bases in the game during the inning, bringing his season total to 11 and placing him in a tie for third place on the team with Kyle Tucker.
Andrew Thome started the game on the hill for the Astros and threw another five innings of scoreless baseball. Thome, in his 31 innings pitched this season, has only allowed three earned runs to cross the plate, bringing his ERA to an astonishing 0.87. He added six more strikeouts to his total Sunday night, now boasting 19 strikeouts on the year.
Greeneville tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a couple of wild pitches and a Princeton fielding error. Ford Stainback, who had one of the team's five stolen bases, came across to score the first run on a wild pitch after reaching base on a walk. Christian Correa also drew a base on balls and came across to score on a fielding error by Rays' right fielder Angel Perez. Myles Straw, who reached on the error, scored the third and final run of the inning on another wild pitch from Rays' pitcher Garrett Fulenchek, bringing the score to 5-0.
Cristhopher Santamaria took over on the mound in the top of the sixth and tossed three innings of one-hit baseball. Although one run did come across to score on a groundball by Jose Rojas, the game outcome was never in doubt and Santamaria went on to receive the hold.
The Astros scored their last run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Myles Straw led off with a single and advanced to second on his Appalachian League leading 21st stolen base of the year. Straw later came across to score his third run of the night on a Kyle Tucker RBI groundball to right field, raising the Astros' lead to 6-1.
Dylan James came in to close things out for the Astros in the top of the ninth inning. In just his sixth inning pitched for Greeneville this year, James struck out one batter while allowing two hits and one run before he sealed the deal for the Astros.
Greeneville will take on the Rays again on Monday, August 31st at 7:00 PM at Pioneer Park, gates will open at 6:00 PM.
The Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information, visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
Images from this story
 Greeneville Astros Pitcher Andrew Thome (Hunter Reed) |
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