Twins Trounce K-Mets, 12-5

The Kingsport Mets' game with the Elizabethton Twins on Tuesday night essentially was decided in the first three innings.

Elizabethton built a 10-0 lead in the first three frames that proved insurmountable, and the Twins rolled to a 12-5 triumph in the rubber game of their three-game series with the K-Mets at Hunter Wright Stadium.

For the second straight outing, Kingsport starter Akeel Morris was chased after less than three innings on the mound. This time, Morris allowed a three-run home run in each of the first two frames-one to D.J. Hicks and another to Max Kepler-and then let the first three men he faced in the third inning reach safely before K-Mets skipper Jose Leger pulled the starter in favor of Martires Arias.

Morris (0-5), who officially went just two innings, allowed 10 runs on five hits and five walks. All 10 runs were earned.

Seven Elizabethton pitchers saw time for the Twins. The win went to Kaleb Merck (2-1), who was the only one of the Twins' six relievers to log multiple innings. Hicks had the best night of any Twins hitter, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a double in addition to his three-run home run. Jorge Polanco had three hits and two RBIs out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup.

Kingsport showed some life in the bottom of the ninth. Trailing 12-2 heading into their last turn at bat, the K-Mets generated three runs to chase freshly entered Elizabethton reliever Travis Huber. That flurry was too little, too late, however.

NOTES: Kingsport shortstop Gavin Cecchini, the Mets' first-round pick in June's draft, left the game in the fourth inning after stealing second base. On the play, the throw by Elizabethton catcher Michael Quesada caught Cecchini on the right leg. ... Tomas Nido batted cleanup for Kingsport for the first time all season. Jon Leroux, who has seen time at first base and in right field thus far in 2012, spelled Alex Machillanda behind the plate in the fourth inning to log his first work at catcher. ... K-Mets reliever Miller Diaz had arguably his best effort of the season, scattering two hits and a single run over four innings, but struggled with control in his final frame and threw four wild pitches. Diaz had five wild pitches over his entire outing. ... The K-Mets are off tonight, then begin a four-game series at home against Bristol over three nights. The Sox are managed by Pete Rose Jr.