Astros complete sweep of Blue Jays

Greeneville, TN - In a battle between the Appalachian League division leaders, the West-leading Greeneville Astros (38-27) completed a sweep of the East-leading Bluefield Blue Jays (40-24) with a 2-1 win at Pioneer Park on Tuesday night. The Astros won each of the three games in the series by one run and now have a 17-7 record in one-run games on the season.

After three scoreless innings, both teams managed to score in the fourth inning. In the top of the inning, following a leadoff double, Franklin Barreto scored for the Blue Jays when the Astros committed two throwing errors on a D.J. Davis ground ball. However, after Marc Wik got on for the Astros with a single in the bottom of the inning and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt, Juan Santana doubled on a line drive down the left field line to bring in the tying run.

The game remained tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Then, Marc Wik got on with a walk, advanced to second on a balk and moved over to third on a wild pitch. Finally, with one out, Alfredo Gonzalez connected on a fly ball that dropped into right field for what turned out to be a game-winning RBI single as Wik crossed the plate for the second time.

After Astros' lefty Jordan Mills (5-1) had the Blue Jays go three up, three down in the eighth inning, he returned to close the game in the ninth and pick up his team-leading fifth win. Over his two innings of work, Mills gave up just one hit and had one strikeout. Francis Ramirez, Sebastian Kessay and Jose Montero each pitched well in the seven innings prior to Mills' arrival as they combined to allow just three hits, one unearned run and collect nine strikeouts.

With three games left, the Astros are holding onto a half-game lead over the second-place Kingsport Mets (37-27) in the Appalachian League West. However, with a 2.5 game lead over the Johnson City Cardinals (35-29) and a 3.0 game lead over the Elizabethton Twins (35-30), the Astros can clinch a playoff berth with one more win. 

Beginning Wednesday, the Astros will be hosting the Danville Braves (26-36) in a three-game series to close the regular season schedule. Game time is set for 7:00pm. For more information on the Greeneville Astros, please visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.