Cardinals finish sweep of Jays

BLUEFIELD - The Bluefield Jays fell to the Johnson City on Tuesday night at Bowen Field, 7-2, as the Cardinals finished off a three-game sweep.

 

Bluefield has now lost five consecutive games and dropped to 10-8 on the season, surrendering first place in the Appalachian League East Division to the Burlington Royals in the process. Johnson City improved to 11-7.

 

The Cardinals threatened to score in the top of the third inning, but Bluefield starter Alberto Tirado worked his way out of a bases loaded, one-out jam with a lineout to shortstop and groundout to second.

 

The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI-single by Jesus Gonzalez to right field. On the same play, Jorge Saez was cut down trying to score.

 

The Jays added a run in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI-single to left field by Alex Maldonado that brought in D.J. Jones.

 

After four scoreless innings of relief work by Bluefield pitcher Jairo LaBourt, the Cardinals cracked the scoreboard with a solo home run off of him by Vaughn Bryan. Later in the inning, the Cardinals tied the game after scoring a run on a throwing error by Maldonado.

 

A few batters later, Johnson City took the lead on a two-RBI single by Justin Ringo.

 

Johnson City stretched its lead in the top of the ninth off of Bluefield's Brett Barber with RBI-singles from Ronnierd Garcia, Rowan Wick, and Ringo.

 

Bluefield went down 1-2-3 to end the game in the ninth. 

 

After three scoreless innings by Tirado, LaBourt (L, 1-1) allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits.

 

Michael Holback (W, 1-0) did not allow a hit while closing out the game with 2.2 scoreless innings.

 

Bluefield begins a six-game road trip on Wednesday night against the Burlington Royals.