Yankees Stifle Astros, 8-1
(Pulaski, VA)-The Pulaski Yankees secured their third series sweep of the season with an 8-1 victory over the Greeneville Astros. The Yankees (31-21) limited the Astros (26-25) to only two hits in an 8-1 win.
For the third time in the series the Yankees scored first. Jesus Aparicio blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the second to put his team. Aparicio's shot scored Gosuke Katoh, who walked, and Frank Frias, who reached on an error.
Aparicio collected two more hits on Saturday and drove home four runners. He had seven runs batted in over the series with the Astros.
Greeneville scored their lone run in the game's third inning. Osvaldo Duarte, the Astro's nine-place hitter, took Pulaski starter David Palladino deep.
The home run would be Palladino's only blemish as the 6'8" right hander yielded two hits over seven innings. Palladino (4-0) issued no walks and struck out nine batters.
Pulaski tacked on insurance runs in the sixth, seventh, and eight innings.
In the sixth, Frank Frias walked with two outs then scored when Greeneville right fielder Brauly Mejia misplayed a ball hit by Aparicio.
The Yankees parlayed another Mejia error into a run in the seventh. Hoy Jun Park singled, and Austin Afenir followed with a base hit into right. Mejia let Afenir's ball squirt away from him then compounded the mistake by airmailing his throw into third base, which allowed Park to score.
Carlos Vidal concluded the game's scoring with an eighth-inning double that scored Kendall Coleman.
Cody Carroll fired the final two innings for Pulaski. Carroll allowed no hits and walked three.
Park led all batters with three base hits and has hit safely in the last five games.
The Yankees now begin a three-game road series with the Burlington Royals, which is followed by a day off. Pulaski returns home on August 20th to conclude their home slate with a six-game series.