K-Mets Fall To Pulaski

The Kingsport Mets have two more chances to end a tough Appalachian League season on a high note. Hosting the Pulaski Mariners in a three-game series that concludes the 2012 schedule for both teams, Kingsport dropped the opener to the visitors on Sunday evening by a 6-4 margin.

Pulaski did all its damage in two separate outbursts, roughing up starting pitcher Persio Reyes for four runs on four hits in the second inning and then scratching across two unearned runs against K-Mets reliever Carlos Valdez in the fourth-after Kingsport had halved its deficit.

The K-Mets lost despite getting three hits for extra bases, including a triple apiece from Jorge Rivero and Jeffery Diehl. Both three-bag hits scored a run, and both hitters later crossed the plate themselves. Diehl had the best line of any Kingsport batter, going 3-for-4. Anthony Chavez added two hits from the seventh spot in the lineup.

Three Mariners had multihit performances as Pulaski pounded out 11 base knocks as a team. Gilmer Lampe, Tyler Marlette and Keith Werman each had two hits. Martin Peguero drove in two runs in very different ways-one on a double, and another on a suicide squeeze bunt where he reached safely on a throwing error by Kingsport catcher Tomas Nido.

It was one of three defensive miscues by the K-Mets, who have committed 113 errors, the most in the Appy.

Levi Dean (1-2) lasted into the sixth inning before getting pulled, but the Pulaski bullpen helped preserve his first win as a professional. Reyes (3-6) took the loss, and his two-inning outing was one of the shortest of the season for a Kingsport starting pitcher.

The two teams renew their three-game series tonight. Gates open at 6 p.m., and first pitch is at 7 p.m.