Pulaski cruises in doubleheader with Bristol

GAME ONE

The Pulaski Mariners (23-15) shut out the Bristol White Sox (11-27) in the opener of a doubleheader Tuesday evening at Calfee Park, winning 6-0 behind another impressive start from right-hander Jose Flores.

Flores, named the Appy League Pitcher of the Week (July 22-28) after six shutout innings last Thursday against the Princeton Rays, was equally as dominant on the mound in game one against Bristol. The righty allowed just five base runners in six innings on three hits and two walks. He struck out three and got plenty of run support, moving to 4-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.65 through seven starts.

The M's grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, providing Flores all the run support he would need. Aaron Barbosa drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on an Angel Rosario passed ball. Barbosa moved up 90 feet on an Ian Miller groundout. With the infield playing in on the grass, Tyler Smith hit a hard chopper off the glove of shortstop Jeffry Santos into shallow left - ruled an RBI double - that put the M's in front.

Pulaski added two runs in the fifth as Barbosa got the M's started again. He doubled with one out and headed to third on Miller's single to center. Smith then knocked another grounder through the left side for an RBI single, scoring Barbosa. Jeff Zimmerman followed with an RBI single of his own.

The Mariners doubled their three-run lead in the sixth inning. Luke Guarnaccia doubled to lead off the inning, and Zach Shank followed with a walk. Franklin Diaz then split the gap in left center and raced all the way to third for a two-run triple. Diaz scored moments later on another Rosario passed ball.

Daniel Thieben threw a scoreless seventh inning for Pulaski.

Tyler Barnette (1-3, 4.24 ERA) took the loss for the White Sox, despite allowing just one earned run in four innings.

Pulaski hitters one through four (Barbosa, Miller, Smith, Zimmerman) combined to go 6-for-12 with two doubles, two RBI's, three runs scored, and two walks.

 

GAME TWO

Pulaski (24-15) didn't let off the pedal in game two Tuesday, hammering the Bristol White Sox (11-28) in the nightcap, 7-2.

Dylan De Meyer made a rare start on the mound for Pulaski and pitched effectively outside of a shaky first inning. De Meyer allowed two runs on three hits in the first, but settled down and lasted 3 2/3 innings. He allowed eight hits and struck out three. The right-hander took a no-decision and was relieved by southpaw Leoncio Munoz.

The Mariners offense got on the board with three runs in the second inning. Isaiah Yates crushed a two-run blast off the scoreboard to tie the game at two. Wilton Martinez then reached on an error, headed to third on a Zach Shank double, and scored on a Sammy Ayala passed ball to put Pulaski in front, 3-2.

Munoz shut out the White Sox in his 2 1/3 innings of work, allowing a single hit while striking out four. Munoz benefitted by entering with the Mariners in front 3-2 and picked up his fourth win of the season, moving his record to an unblemished 4-and-0.

Pulaski added to their one-run lead with a three-run fifth inning. Tyler Smith led off the inning with a triple off the fence in center and came in to score on a Kristian Brito RBI single. One out later, Martinez sent a Charlie Sharrer pitch into the next area code - crushing a fastball that cleared the fence in left center by a long shot - putting the M's up 6-2.

The Mariners added one more run in the sixth inning on a SAC fly from Smith which scored Barbosa.

Pulaski recorded eight hits in the game, led by Brito's 3-for-4 effort. Brito's RBI single in the fifth marked his team-high 24^th RBI.

Emilio Pagan pitched a scoreless seventh. The hard throwing closer allowed one hit and struck out two batters, keeping his ERA at a sparkling 0.00.

The Mariners are now a season-high nine games above .500 at 24-15 overall and trail Bluefield in the Appy East by 1.5 games.

Pulaski and Bristol will wrap up the series tomorrow night at Calfee Park with one game scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. Gabe Saquilon (1-2, 4.00 ERA) makes his first start for the Mariners, and he'll be opposed by White Sox righty Kelvis Valerio (2-4, 5.01 ERA).

 

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