K-Mets fall to Danville in season opener

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (June 19, 2014) - One big inning spoiled the 2014 season opener for the Kingsport Mets, as the Danville Braves came away with an 8-4 victory on Tuesday night on the first night of the new Appalachian League campaign.

Danville scored five runs in the second inning and that was the difference in the game. During the Braves' five-run second inning, an apparent double play was nullified by a catcher's interference ruling. Danville then scored two runs on a routine fielder's choice grounder when Keith Curcio upended Kingsport shortstop Luis Guillorme on a hard but clean slide into second base.

That prodigious output in the second made it a short night for Kingsport starter Christian Montgomery. He lasted just 1 1-3 innings, allowing seven runs-six earned-on five hits and five walks.

Ivan Wilson was a bright spot for the K-Mets. The third-round pick from last year's draft hit a home run to deep center field in the ninth inning and also doubled home Kingsport's first run of the season during the fourth inning. He was the only Kingsport batter with a multi-hit game.

Martires Arias also threw well for Kingsport in long relief, allowing a single run, two hits and a walk in 5 2-3 innings while racking up six strikeouts.

The three-game series between these two teams continues on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

K-METRICS: Kingsport allowed five runs on three hits and an error in the top of the second inning. The K-Mets actually yielded those exact same totals in the top of the second inning of last season's opener, a 9-3 loss to the Johnson City Cardinals. Not a great result, but it didn't spoil the season as Kingsport won the West Division title and made its first Appy League playoff appearance since 1996.

NOTES: Outfielder Wuilmer Becerra, who was included from Toronto as part of the R.A. Dickey trade, tallied the first K-Met hit of the season on a ground-ball single to right. … The K-Mets brought back seven familiar faces from last season's team, including Arias, starting third baseman Pedro Perez and starting first baseman Zach Mathieu. … The two teams combined to substitute seven position players, with Danville making five of those changes. … Matt Kimbrel, the younger brother of big-league Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, recorded the win in relief.