Valdez stuns Mets as Astros cruise to 6-2 win
July 3, 2016 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - Returning home from their first series win of the year against the Princeton Rays, the Greeneville Astros (4-6) aimed to continue their winning ways against the Kingsport Mets (2-8) within the friendly confines of Pioneer Park. Starting pitcher Framber Valdez shut down the Mets for six innings and received strong run support to carry the Astros to a 6-2 win.
The Mets struggled from early on as Valdez dazzled and flirted with a no-hitter through five and two-thirds innings of work. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth the Mets registered their first hit of the game, a single on a ground ball to right field. Valdez was able to bounce back and strike out the next batter, totaling eight strikeouts for the night and putting him in line for the win.
Unlike the Mets, the Astros found success early on in the game recording hits in the first two innings and eventually scoring in the fourth. After a Frankeny Fernandez single to the left side of the infield, outfielder Luis Payano connected on his second home run of the year to left center field. Payano's homer was the Astros' 15th of the season, and they have now hit a home run in nine of their first ten games of the year.
In the bottom of the fifth the Astros struck again, but this time by playing small ball. Gabriel Bracamonte led off with a single followed by a Vicente Sanchez walk and a sacrifice bunt by Miguelangel Sierra. Third baseman Tyler Wolfe singled home Bracamonte and Wander Franco grounded out, scoring Sanchez and putting the Astros up 4-0.
Former Tusculum College standout pitcher Placido Torres, the Mets' 2016 8th round draft pick, made his way back to his old stomping grounds of Pioneer Park for an appearance in the seventh inning. The NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year recorded two strikeouts but surrendered a single to Wolfe and a RBI triple to Fernandez, extending the Astros lead to 5-0.
Trailing in the eighth, Kingsport was fortunate to score two runs after Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu started the inning off with two walks and a wild pitch. An Ian Strom RBI single and another wild pitch brought the Mets within three.
The Astros added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on a fielding error by the Mets before sending out reliever Devin Raftery to close out the game. Raftery failed to give up a hit and struck out two in his one inning of work.
With Saturday's win, manager Josh Bonifay tied Rodney Linares' club record for most managerial wins at 74. Bonifay will look to break the record Sunday night in game two of the three game set against the Mets.
Sunday's game will begin at 6:00pm. Gates will open at 5:00pm with a buy one, get one ticket offer for all fans in attendance.
The Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information, visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
Appalachian League Stories from July 3, 2016
- Mets take down Astros to even series - Greeneville Astros
- Pulaski Blanks Bristol in Game Two of Series - Pulaski River Turtles
- Valdez stuns Mets as Astros cruise to 6-2 win - Greeneville Astros
- Danville Drops Another Close Contest - Danville Otterbots
- Pulaski Blanks Bristol in Game Two of Series - Pulaski River Turtles
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