Astros go out on top for home season finale

The Greeneville Astros (33-31) took care of business Monday night defeating the Elizabethton Twins (39-26) with a final score of 3-2. Greeneville used a three-run third inning to cruise to a victory on their final home game of the regular season. Pregame ceremonies saw Frankeny Fernandez taking home the Oscar Padron Award for outstanding leadership and character while Roman Garcia was named team MVP for the 2017 season.
The Astros got off to a great start as starter Jairo Solis (1-1) threw a stellar three innings, only giving up two hits and one walk while striking out four. Solis retired the side to start the game and gave up one hit in both the second and third innings lowering his ERA to 1.93 on the season.
Greeneville did all of its damage offensively in the bottom of the third inning scoring three runs off starter Edwar Colina (3-5). With one out, Greeneville put a runner in scoring position after Wilson Amador was hit by a pitch and Juan Pineda walked. Second baseman Frankeny Fernandez notched his seventh double of the year to right scoring Amador and leaving runners at second and third. Right fielder Patrick Mathis delivered a two-out single scoring both runners giving Greeneville a 3-0 lead that wouldn't be overcome.
Reliver Juan Corniel (1-1) earned the win tossing two innings of one hit ball and kept the Twins off the scoreboard. Tim Hardy also made a relief appearance with two and two-thirds innings of work racking up five strikeouts before the night ended receiving his first hold of the year.
Elizabethton finally brought some runs across the plate in the top of the eighth cutting the Greeneville lead to one run. With two strikeouts and runners reaching base on a hit by pitch and a walk, Andrew Cosgrove doubled on a grounder to left scoring both runners before Ian Hardman got the last out of the inning. Hardman would go on to earn his second save of the year holding Elizabethton scoreless in the bottom of the ninth and avoiding the series sweep.
The Astros will now head on the road as they travel to Princeton for the final three games of the regular season. Currently the Astros are in a tie with Johnson City for second place in the western division of the Appalachian League fighting to keep hold of the second playoff spot.
The Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information, visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.