Reds denied sweep, as Pirates take finale, 10-3

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- LF Brandt Stallings mashed a titanic, 414-foot home run to the left of dead center, but that clout was not enough, as the Bristol Pirates salvaged the final game of the three-game series, topping the Greeneville Reds, 10-3, in front of 1,175 fans at Pioneer Park on Monday night.
With the loss, the Redlegs were denied their first series sweep of the year, as they fell to 9-16 on the campaign. Bristol's victory snapped a four-game losing streak, improving the Bucs overall mark to 12-14.
In search of their first win of the series, the Pirates wasted no time getting on the scoreboard on Monday evening. After a leadoff single by SS Victor Ngoepe (2-6, R, SO), 2B Dean Lockery (1-5, R, HR, 2 RBI) blasted a 3-2 offering over the wall in right for a two-run home run. The shot - his first professional home run - gave the Bucs an early 2-0 lead.
After the long ball, CF Jonah Davis (1-4, R, 2B, BB, SO) re-started the attack with a double to right and 1B Mason Martin (2-2, 4 R, 3 BB) walked. A dribbling single by RF Conner Uselton (3-5, R, RBI, SO) loaded the bases and a booted grounder off the bat of LF Christian Navarro (1-4, RBI, BB) brought home another tally to stretch the advantage to three. Finally, a sacrifice fly to center by C Gabriel Brito (2-3, 4 RBI) capped off the four-run opening inning.
The long ball made another appearance for the BriBucs in the third. Subsequently after a single by Martin, 3B Sherten Apostel (2-4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SO) muscled a pitch over the left-field fence for a two-run homer. The 19-year-old's shot - his second of the year - put Bristol in the driver's seat, 6-0.
A three-run fourth inning helped the Pirates put the game firmly out of reach. Succeeding back-to-back two-out walks, Uselton popped an RBI single back up the middle to make it a 7-0 contest. After another free pass, Brito laced a two-run knock to center to give Bristol a comfortable 9-0 advantage.
Greeneville's offense finally came alive with a bang in the bottom of the fourth. A two-out single in the frame by 3B Raul Juarez (2-4, R) brought Stallings (1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, SO) to the dish. On a 3-1 pitch, the Buford, Ga. native hammered a ball just to the left of the batter's eye in straightaway center field for his a two-run dinger. Stallings' homer - the first of his career - brought the Reds to within 7-2.
The Reds would add another run in the fifth after consecutive knocks from C Rob Boselli (1-3, R, SO) and CF Mike Siani (2-5) put men at first and third. It would only be a one-tally rally, as a double-play grounder brought home a run, but emptied the bases. 
Bristol responded with a run of their own in the top of the sixth courtesy of another sacrifice fly to center by Brito.
It was another rocky start for RHP Miguel Medrano (2.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, BB, 2 SO) on Monday. The 20-year-old was burned for six runs (five earned) on nine hits, suffering his second loss of the year.
RHP Steven Jennings (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, SO) petered late but battled through five innings of three-run ball to earn the victory for the Pirates, his second of the year.
After the off-day on Tuesday, Greeneville will head to Elizabethton to open up a three-game series against the Western Division-leading Twins on Wednesday night. RHP Lyon Richardson (0-2, 7.71 ERA) - Cincinnati's second-round pick this year - is expected to toe the slab in lid-lifter. Elizabethton has yet to name their rotation for the upcoming series.
The G-Reds Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:45 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:00 p.m. ET start at Joe O'Brien Field. Wednesday evening's contest can be heard on GreenevilleReds.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
Following the brief three-game road trip, the Reds will return home to Pioneer Park on Saturday, July 21 to kickstart a three-contest set against the Burlington Royals. Fans are advised to arrive early, as the first 350 patrons through the gates will receive a Lee Landers Bobblehead in honor of his upcoming retirement as Appalachian League President.
Season and single-game tickets are still available and can be purchased online at GreenevilleReds.com or by calling the Reds' Ticket Office at (423) 609-7400.