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K-Mets top Baby Birds in back-and-forth affair, 7-6

SS Delvin Perez dazzles on defense, collects first Appy RBI in loss
SS Delvin Perez collected a pair of hits, including his first Appalachian League RBI in the Cardinals' 7-6 loss to the Kingsport Mets on Sunday night at Hunter Wright Stadium. (Bret Jacomet)
June 25, 2017

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - SS Delvin Perez was superb in the field and at the plate - making several sparkling plays and collecting his first Appalachian League multi-hit game - but it was not enough, as the Kingsport Mets held off the Johnson City Cardinals, 7-6, at Hunter Wright Stadium on Sunday.With the loss,

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - SS Delvin Perez was superb in the field and at the plate - making several sparkling plays and collecting his first Appalachian League multi-hit game - but it was not enough, as the Kingsport Mets held off the Johnson City Cardinals, 7-6, at Hunter Wright Stadium on Sunday.
With the loss, Johnson City drops to an even 2-2 on the year. Kingsport's win vaults them to a perfect 3-0.
Tied at six in the bottom of the seventh, the K-Mets caught fire to push them back in front. C Juan Uriarte (2-4, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI) started the frame with a single to left and scooted to second on a bloop single to right by 1B Jeremy Vasquez (2-3, 2B, RBI). On an 0-2 pitch, DH Gavin Garay (1-4, RBI, 2 SO) slapped a base-hit in to right field - scoring Uriarte - to put Kingsport ahead, 7-6.
The Baby Birds threatened in the ninth by getting the leadoff man to third on an infield single and a two-base error, but a fielder's choice erased him to end the threat.
Perez (2-4, R, RBI, BB) gave Johnson City the early lead with his first Appy League RBI in the first. CF Chase Pinder (1-3, 2B, 2 BB) led off the game with a walk and LF Walker Robbins (1-4, BB, SO) followed with a single to right. On an 0-2 offering, Perez uncorked a line shot into left - scoring Pinder - to put the Redbirds ahead, 1-0.
Kingsport answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame. With two on and two out, CF Anthony Dirocie (2-4, RBI, BB, SO) tied the game up with a run-scoring single to right. Uriarte followed by poking a two-run triple down the right-field line to put the Mets in front, 3-1. Vasquez stretched the K-Mets' lead to three by scalding a RBI double to right a batter later.
Johnson City pulled to within one with a pair of tallies in the third. After Robbins reached on a dropped third strike wild pitch, a walk to Perez and a wild pitch, C Julio Rodriguez (1-4, 2 RBI, SO) snuck a grounder in the hole at short. Neither runner broke stride as both scored to make it a 4-3 contest.
After Kingsport added a run in the fourth and each team scratched across a tally in the sixth, Johnson City finally broke even in the top of the seventh. Pinder ignited the rally with a double to left-center and Robbins continued the attack with a free pass. Following a double play off the bat of Perez, Pinder scored on a wild pitch to pull the Cards within one, 6-5.
The next batter - 1B Carlos Rodriguez (2-5, HR, RBI, SO) - launched a towering solo home run to deep left - his second long ball of the season - to tie the game up at six.
RHP Pedro Perez (2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, SO) earned the victory in relief for the K-Mets despite suffering a blown save in the top of the seventh inning. RHP Rob Calvano (2.1 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 SO) pitched admirably, but suffered his first loss of the season after yielding the go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame.
Neither starter earned a decision, as RHP Alvaro Seijas (3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) was taxed for four runs in three innings of work for Johnson City. The Mets RHP Ezequiel Zabaleta (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) left in line for the win, but received a no-decision.
Perez (2-4, R, RBI, BB) collected his first RBI and multi-hit game of the season on Sunday afternoon, adding several incredible defensive plays on deflected balls. Rodriguez (2-5, 2 R, HR, RBI, SO) picked up multiple knocks for the third straight game. 3B Irving Wilson (2-3, 2B, RBI) - a late add to the lineup - collected a couple of hits in his first professional start.
The Cardinals continue their road trip on Monday night, as RHP Johan Oviedo  (0-0, -.-- ERA) - St. Louis' No. 26 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com - is projected to take the mound for Johnson City. RHP Christian James (0-0, -.--) is expected to toe the slab for the K-Mets.
The Cardinals Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:15 p.m. ET, leading up to the 6:30 p.m. ET start at Hunter Wright Stadium. Monday evening's contest can be heard on NBCSportsTriCities.com, JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
The Redbirds will return home to open up a six-game homestand against the Greeneville Astros, rookie league affiliate of the Houston Astros, on Wednesday, June 28. It will be the club's Salute to Scrubs Night, featuring special food and ticket discounts for hospital and medical staff.
Season and single-game tickets are still available and can be purchased 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 80 years. To learn more about the Johnson City Cardinals, visit www.jccardinals.com.