Kingsport clinches Appy division title

A team filled with 19- and 20-year-olds getting their first taste of professional baseball is going to experience some emotional moments. Before Rookie-level Kingsport could clinch the Appalachian League West Division title on Friday in Elizabethton, the benches cleared.

There was a lot of talking and some shoving, but in the end, nothing too serious happened. Except, of course, the Mets wrapping up their second division crown in three years. 

Kingsport overcame a pair of three-run deficits and drew three bases-loaded walks in the 10th inning to pull out a 9-6 win over the E-Twins. The victory moved the Mets 4 1/2 games in front of Elizabethton with four to play. 

"We started slow with our pitching, but the second half, that has straightened out," Kingsport manager Luis Rivera said. "Offensively, we've been good all season -- our situational hitting and driving in key runs. We're first in stolen bases and take extra bases. We play aggressive, and I think that's why we've been successful."

Milton Ramos, the Mets' No. 10 prospect, notched four hits and two RBIs, while Luis Ortega collected three hits, including his second homer of the season, and three RBIs.

Kingsport scored twice in the top of the first, but the Twins got homers from LaMonte Wade, Lewin Diaz and Brian Olson to take a 5-2 lead in the fourth. All three blasts came off Mets starter Nabil Crismatt, who ranks fifth in the league with a 2.90 ERA.

"He didn't have his best stuff today," Rivera said. "He was leaving pitches up in the zone and got hit early."

Kingsport trailed, 6-3, heading to the eighth, but Ortega's blast reduced the deficit to a run and Kevin Kaczmarski led off the ninth with his fourth homer. Later in the inning, the Twins apparently did not appreciate a takeout slide at second base by Patrick Mazeika. When Ramos grounded out and dived head-first, he got tangled up with first baseman A.J. Murray and the benches emptied. 

"We have a young, energetic team," Rivera said. "They get all excited and get into their emotions. It was an exciting game. Every time we scored, our guys cheered. They didn't like it."

Elizabethton nearly postponed Kingsport's celebration, but Mets center fielder Ivan Wilson threw out the winning run at the plate to end the ninth.

In the 10th, Luis Carpio, Mazeika and Ortega drew bases-loaded walks. 

"We have come back late in the game all season," Rivera noted. "We had a good approach with the bases loaded in the 10th."

Adrian Almeida issued a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 10th, but got Nestor Molina to bounce into a game-ending double play to set off the celebration.

The win was the Mets' fourth straight, 17th in 22 games and will enable Rivera to use the final week of the season to prepare for the playoffs.

"We have a good team. They never give up," he said. "They've been working hard for this moment. Hopefully, all the hard work and sacrifice pays off."