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Six-run inning sinks Pirates on Friday night

(Michael Grennell/Bristol Pirates)
August 9, 2019

A six-run outburst in the eighth inning proved costly for the Bristol Pirates on Friday night, as they fell 8-6 to the Kingsport Mets.The Pirates took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI double by catcher Eli Wilson and an RBI single by right fielder Daniel Rivero.

A six-run outburst in the eighth inning proved costly for the Bristol Pirates on Friday night, as they fell 8-6 to the Kingsport Mets.
The Pirates took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI double by catcher Eli Wilson and an RBI single by right fielder Daniel Rivero. It would remain a 3-2 game until the top of the eighth inning when the Mets struck for six runs off relievers Alex Roth and Ryan Troutman. Second baseman Josh Bissonette cut the deficit to four runs with an RBI single in the eighth, and Rivero would make it an 8-6 game in the ninth on a two-run single. The Pirates loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but were unable to push across the tying run.
Starter Tahnaj Thomas allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings of work. Yordi Rosario allowed just two hits over two scoreless innings while striking out three to earn his Appalachian League-leading fifth hold of the season, while Troutman finished with one run allowed on three hits over 1 1/3 innings. Roth earned his first career loss while snapping a 10 2/3 scoreless inning streak, as he allowed five runs on four hits and one walk in 2/3 innings of work.
All nine of the Bristol starters had a hit in the loss, with four batters reaching base three times in the game. Bissonette and Rivero each finished 2-for-5 against the Mets, with Bissonette recording one RBI while Rivero led the team with three RBI. Left fielder Jake Snider finished the night 1-for-2 with a run and four walks, while Wilson was 1-for-5 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored.
The Pirates (23-26) will try to earn the series split on Saturday night in the finale with Kingsport. Jose Maldonado will start for Bristol as he comes off his third win of the season in which he allowed one run over five innings with four strikeouts against Elizabethton.