Astros shutout Braves, 5-0, to win series

Danville, VA - The Greeneville Astros beat the Danville Braves (26-31) by a score of 5-0 Friday night to clinch the series win in Danville. The victory increases the Astros' record to 29-27 on the season and leaves them within two games of the Kingsport Mets (31-25) for first place in Appalachian League West division.

Four Greeneville pitchers combined for the shutout. Makay Nelson started the game on the hill and allowed just five hits across his four innings of work. He was relieved by Alejandro Solarte in the fourth and he allowed just one hit during the inning. Yhoan Acosta entered in the fifth and pitched four scoreless innings, striking out six Danville batters and picking up the win in the process. Lachlan Madden dealt the ninth inning and didn't allow a single batter to reach base as the Astros took the win.

The Astros scored their first runs in the top of the third inning. Justin Garcia got aboard by drawing a walk to lead off the inning. He was advanced to third base on a groundball single by Osvaldo Duarte and came in to score on a Myles Straw single. Duarte scored the second run of the inning by stealing home plate for his sixteenth stolen base of the year and gave Greeneville a 2-0 lead.

The Astros tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning. Connor Goedert started things off by smacking his first of two hits in the game. After advancing to third on a wild pitch and a Kyle Tucker groundball, Goedert came in to score on a Kevin Martir line drive single up the middle.

Greeneville scored their fourth and fifth runs of the game in the top of the sixth inning thanks to another Martir RBI single and a Justin Garcia RBI single. Connor Goedert and Kyle Tucker came across to score after reaching on a successive walks and the Astros took a 5-0 lead.

Connor Goedert and Kevin Martir lead the Astros offensively against the Braves. Goedert went two-for-three at the plate with a double and two runs scored. Martir finished two-for-four with two RBI.

The Astros will go for the series sweep in Danville Saturday night as they take on the Braves at 7:00 PM. They will return home on Sunday to take on the Elizabethton Twins at 6:00 PM at Pioneer Park.

The Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information, call (423) 638-0411.