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K-Mets Bullpen Stumbles In Loss To Pulaski

August 27, 2012

The Kingsport Mets let a victory slip away in the late innings of Monday night's game against the Pulaski Mariners at Hunter Wright Stadium. Up 4-0 through seven innings, Pulaski scored three runs in the eighth and two in the ninth to steal a 5-4 win from the K-Mets.

Robert Gsellman fired nearly seven innings of shutout baseball, blanking Pulaski through his 6 2/3 innings of work and carrying a no-hitter into the fifth frame. Meanwhile, the K-Mets gave Gsellman a four-run advantage.

Ramon Estevez finished up the seventh then immediately got into trouble in the eighth, allowing triples by Martin Peguero and Reginald Lawson among three hits as the Mariners plated three runs to pull within striking distance of Kingsport. Lawson was still on third base when Martire Arias came on and successfully pitched out of Estevez's jam.

Arias came back to the mound in the ninth with a chance to notch his first save of the season. However, he quickly loaded the bases on a single, a walk and a sacrifice attempt by Franklin Diaz that allowed Diaz to reach safely when K-Mets catcher Jeyckol De Leon committed a throwing error. Pulaski tied the game when Arias misplayed a groundball Peguero squibbed at home, and a fielder's choice groundout accounted for the go-ahead run.

Kingsport made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth, trying to engineer a one-out rally on consecutive singles by Kevin Weijgertse and Joe Tuschak. However, Pulaski reliever David Holman bore down to retire pinch-hitter Tomas Nido and Gavin Cecchini to end the game and preserve the Mariners' one-run lead.

Holman (3-3) picked up the win and Arias (2-2) took the loss.

Diehl had a second straight good game at the plate for Kingsport, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a solo home run after putting up a 3-for-4 line in Sunday's loss to Pulaski. Weijgertse tallied three singles with an RBI. Gsellman got the hard-luck no-decision, allowing four singles over his 6 2/3 innings with one walk and five strikeouts.

Tonight marks the final Appalachian League game of the 2012 season for Kingsport. It will be Fan Appreciation Night, with several giveaways planned including items autographed by members of the 2012 K-Met team.