Career night from Luis Ortiz leads Pirates in 3-1 victory

It took just two hours and two minutes for the Bristol Pirates to defeat the Kingsport Mets 3-1 on Saturday in a career-best performance from starter Luis Ortiz.
The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, as Ortiz made his only mistake of the night when Kingsport catcher Wilfred Astudillo hit a solo home run to right. Right fielder Joseivin Medina tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out single to drive in third baseman Aaron Shackelford. RBI singles from Shackelford and shortstop Jesus Valdez would give the Pirates the lead in the third inning, as Ortiz and Yoelvis Reyes combined to shut out the Mets over the final seven innings of the night.
Ortiz became the first Pirates starter to throw six innings since Colin Selby on August 27, 2018, as he allowed one run on three hits with a career-high five strikeouts to earn his first career win. Reyes pitched three shutout innings. allowing just one walk and one hit with three strikeouts to earn his second save of the year.
Medina led the Pirates at the plate in the win, tying his career-high with three hits as he finished 3-for-3 with one RBI. Valdez and second baseman Josh Bissonette each finished 1-for-4 with a run scored with Valdez also recording an RBI, while Shackelford was 2-for-4 with one RBI and a run scored.
The Pirates (15-16) moved into sole possession of third place in the Appalachian League West Division, and they now sit three games behind Elizabethton for first place, and half a game behind Johnson City for second place. Jose Maldonado will start for Bristol on Sunday for his second appearance against Kingsport this season. In his last start against the Mets, Maldonado threw five shutout innings and set a career-high with six strikeouts.