Yankees Win Fifth in a Row

PULASKI, Virginia - It was a back and forth game between the Pulaski Yankees (20-21) and Greeneville Astros (24-20) Sunday night as the Yankees won 8-7. The Astros and Yankees met in game one of a three-game series at Calfee Park. It was the first time the Astros had made their way to Pulaski this season.

     The Yankees were the first to score, doing so in the bottom of the first inning. Wilkerman Garcia hit a triple while Blake Rutherford reached base via a walk before both runners scored on a single by first baseman Brandon Wagner.

     The Astros were held scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when shortstop Jonathan Arauz hit a solo home run to right field. The Astros would continue to score in the next two innings as Reiny Beltre and Carlos Machado each crossed the plate in the fifth. Frankeny Fernandez crossed the plate in the sixth inning thanks to an RBI single by catcher Oscar Campos to make the game 4-2.

     The Yankees made a comeback in the sixth inning, scoring four runs. Wilkerman Garcia reached base on a dropped third strike before Blake Rutherford joined him with a single. Garcia was later driven in by Pulaski catcher Donny Sands. Rutherford scored on a balk by Greeneville pitcher Salvador Montaño to tie the game at 4. Dermis Garcia, who reached base on a walk, and Sands also scored in the sixth to give the Yankees a 6-4 lead.

     The Yankees lead did not last long as the Astros put together a three-run seventh inning. Arauz was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Abraham Toro hit a double to get on base. Both runners were driven in on a single by Fernandez, who scored later in the inning on a single by Beltre.

     The game was tied in the eighth inning as Brandon Wagner hit a solo home run, his first for Pulaski.

     In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees were looking for a rally to give them the win. Wilkerman Garcia started the inning off with a single before the bases were loaded by walks. With Wagner at the plate, Garcia came home to score on a wild pitch to win the game.

     Pulaski reliever Miles Chambers (2-1) got the win while pitching one inning and giving up one hit and no runs. Greeneville reliever Luis Ramirez (0-1) picked up the loss for the Astros, throwing three innings and giving up two runs on two hits.

     The win was the Yankees' fifth in a row. They will finish the series against Greeneville on Monday and Tuesday. The Yankees currently sit in fourth place in the Appalachian League East.