Astros roll to 9-2 win over Mets, even series

Kingsport, TN - The Greeneville Astros (21-18) took an early lead on the Kingsport Mets (15-24) before putting the game out of reach with a six-run fifth inning just as the rain began to fall on Hunter Wright Stadium. With Monday's win, the Astros remain a half-game behind the first place Johnson City Cardinals (21-17) in the Appalachian League West Division.

The top two batters in the Astros lineup, shortstop Jonathan Arauz and new second baseman Jonathan Matute, set the tone for the club all night as they combined to go five-for-nine in the game. Of their five hits, three went for extra-bases as they tallied three runs scored and four RBI.

Arauz led off the game in the first inning with a triple to centerfield and scored on a Matute sacrifice fly. Then, in the second, the Astros scored again on a two-out Arauz RBI single.

The Mets briefly cut the Astros lead in half in the fourth inning after scoring on a passed ball with two outs, but Salvador Montaño got the Astros out of the inning with a strikeout to end his night. Over his four innings of work, Montaño surrendered just one hit and one unearned run to go with six strikeouts and leave him with a 1.06 ERA on the season.

With their lead cut to one, the Astros answered in a big way in the top of the fifth as their six runs came in a variety of ways. After Matute doubled to lead off the inning and Connor MacDonald was hit-by-pitch, Abraham Toro reached on a fielding error as Matute came home for the first score. Chaz Pal followed with a sacrifice fly to plate the second run. From there, Ruben Castro and Reiny Beltre each knocked in a run with singles leading to a Mets pitching change. Then, the final two runs occurred when Matute came back up to draw a bases-loaded walk and MacDonald was hit by a second pitch in the same inning with the bases still full.

Before the top of the fifth inning had concluded, the rain had begun to fall. The two teams toughed it out and played through the misty conditions, but when all was said and done, the Astros had jumped to an 8-1 lead.

The Mets added one more run in the sixth inning on an Anthony Dimino ground out, but the Astros canceled that score out immediately in the top of the seventh. After Arauz led off with a walk, Matute connected on his second double of the day to bring Arauz around for the final score of the game and give the Astros a 9-2 win.

Arauz, who collected three hits in a game for the second straight night and third time on the season, has been particularly effective on the road. The 17-year-old has now hit safely in 12 consecutive games away from home, which is the longest road hit streak in the league this season. Meanwhile, it was Matute's debut with Greeneville after recently joining the team from the Gulf Coast League Astros.

Left-hander Nathan Thompson (2-0) picked up the win for the Astros after pitching three innings and allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts, much of which was in wet conditions. Then, Abdiel Saldaña threw the final two shutout innings without allowing a hit.

The Astros and Mets will face each other in the series-deciding game three on Tuesday at 7:00pm. Ricardo Castro (2-1) will be on the mound for the Astros and Joel Huertas (0-0) will get the start for Kingsport.

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