ANTONINI HITS FIRST PRO GRAND SLAM IN BLUEFIELD TWINBILL

BLUEFIELD, Va. - Aaron Antonini hit his first professional grand slam in the Johnson City Cardinals' doubleheader series finale in Bluefield Saturday evening. The Cardinals dropped both games by scores of 7-5 and 6-2.
The Cardinals (10-7) will look to get back on track with a two-game series vs. the Elizabethton Twins (10-8) Sunday and Monday. The Cards head to Elizabethton for a 5:00 p.m. game tomorrow before returning home Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET to complete the series.
Monday will be a Peggy Ann Bakery Dollar Monday at TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Fans are invited to enjoy $1 hot dogs, chips, candy, popcorn, Dr. Enuf, Pepsi products, and select beer. It will also be Outdoor Night presented By USA Raft and Academy Sports + Outdoors. Representatives will be on hand to share information about outdoor recreation opportunities in the area. Gates will open at 5:30. 
Antonini's slam in the sixth of Game 1 briefly gave the Cardinals a 5-4 lead. Down 4-0 entering the frame, the Cards got back-to-back doubles from Chandler Redmond and Carlos Soler to cut the lead to three before Antonini launched his roundtripper over the right field wall. It was the first pro home run for the Middle Tennessee State alum.
The Cards could not hold the late lead in Game 1 though. Wilberto Rivera and Alex Gallegos combined to allow three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Gallegos (0-1) suffered the loss. Alejandro Melean (1-0) earned the win despite allowing five runs in the top of the sixth. Luis Alvarez picked up his first save with a scoreless ninth. 
The Cardinals fell behind 6-0 in Game 2 on a two-run second inning homer by Joseph Reyes and a fourth inning grand slam by Addison Barger. Both were surrendered by Jose Moreno (1-2), who pitched five innings and suffered the loss.
Carlos Soler and Diomedes Del Rio each doubled in the sixth vs. Jays reliever Sam Ryan and scored on a Bluefield error. Del Rio finished the series with three extra-base hits. Starter Jared DiCesare (2-0) earned the win for the Blue Jays after five scoreless innings. 
Johnson City currently leads the Appalachian West by a half game over both Bristol (10-8) and Elizabethton. Fans can tune in all season long to Johnson City Cardinals baseball via TuneIn Radio on the Johnson City Cardinals Radio Network.
The full schedule for this season and season ticket information can be found online at jccardinals.com, or by calling the Cardinals Ticket Office at 423-461-4866.
ABOUT THE JOHNSON CITY CARDINALS
The Johnson City Cardinals are the Rookie affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Members of the ten-team Appalachian League, Cardinals baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 50 years. To learn more about the Johnson City Cardinals, visit www.jccardinals.com.
[STORY PHOTO BY ROBERT KELL]