Yanks Take Both Games Against Greenville in Doubleheader

Greenville, TN - After the opening game of the series was washed out by rain Friday night, the Yanks swept yesterday's doubleheader against the Greenville Reds to improve to 29-14 on the year.

Reid Anderson got the start on the mound for the Pulaski in game one and delivered another impressive performance. He went six innings, gave up three hits and two runs while setting a new single-game high in strikeouts with 10. Anderson got off to a really great start by not allowing a hit until the fifth inning and racking up seven strikeouts in the same time.
Anthony Volpe led off the game with a double and moved to third on an Antonio Cabello single. A ground ball allowed Volpe to score and the Yanks had a 1-0 lead. The Yankees tacked on another run in the top of the third inning when Borinquen Mendez hit a lead off triple, and extended his hitting streak to eight games. It looked like the Yankees would be unable to capitalize on Mendez's triple as the next two batters failed to push the run across. With two outs Roberto Chirinos hit a double to right-center field that scored Mendez and gave the Yanks a 2-0 lead.
The Reds tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after a lead off single and then a pair of two out hits including a triple of their own. Neither team was able to do anything in the sixth inning and the Yanks got a single in the top of the seventh but could not advance him any farther.
 
Mitch Spence came on to replace Anderson in the seventh inning and delivered a 1-2-3 inning to send the game to extra innings. With the runner on second base to start the inning, Volpe dropped a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third with one out. The Yanks then hit back-to-back doubles from Cabello and Roberto Chirinos and then Gustavo Campero hit a triple to give the Yankees a 5-2 lead in the top of the eighth. Spence closed game one by striking out all three Reds batters in the bottom of the inning to give the Yankees their first extra-innings win of the year.
In game two, Pulaski once again took an early lead by scoring one run in the top of the first. After back-to-back singles to start the game a fly ball pushed Chirinos over to third base. The Yanks then used a double steal with two outs and runners on the corners. Chirinos stole home while Cabello swiped second and the Yanks were ahead 1-0.
Ken Waldichuk had the ball to start game two for the Yankees and also had a light's out performance. The Yankees had been keeping the fifth round selection on a strict three-inning limit through his first six starts, however, he got an extra inning of work in game two and allowed just two hits and one run in four innings while delivering nine strikeouts. The one run for the Reds off Waldichuk came in the third inning after Greenville put together two hits including a double to tie the game at 1-1.
The game would remain tied until the top of the seventh inning after a tough sequence for the Reds pitcher. Campero led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Two straight wild pitches scored Campero and gave the Yanks a 2-1 lead. Tyler Johnson came in to pitch for the Yankees in the bottom of the inning to try and earn the save and give the Yanks the win. It looked as though Johnson would accomplish just that when he got the first two outs in order but then a two-out double followed by a single tied the game. The Reds then reached on an error that allowed the winning run to advance to third base. Johnson buckled down and got a strikeout to send the game to extras once again tied at 2-2.
Pulaski tried to copy their strategy in extra innings from game one by bunting the runner over to third base to start the inning but failed this time around -at least at first. Chirinos bunt was popped up and caught by the Greenville catcher in foul territory. The Yanks tried it again as Cabello laid down a bunt and then made it to first as the first baseman missed the throw from the catcher and the ball trickled into right field and allowed Jake Pries to score to give the Yankees the lead. Cabello tried to make it all the way to third base but was thrown out for the second out of the inning. With two outs and nobody on base, Ryder Green hit a single through the hole between shortstop and third base. Chad Bell also singled and allowed Green to move to third base. Bell then stole second before Saul Torres delivered the third straight single and scored two more runs for the Yanks who took a 5-2 lead in extras once again.
Johnson came out for the bottom of the eight to try and earn the win after blowing the save opportunity and did just that as he retired the side in order with two strikeouts and got the third batter to pop up to Chirinos at shortstop.
With the two wins and another Burlington loss, the Yankees took a +5.5 game lead in first place in the eastern division. The Yankees will go for the series sweep of the Reds tonight with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
The Pulaski Yankees are the Advanced Rookie level affiliate of the New York Yankees playing in the Appalachian League. Pulaski is celebrating its 54th season in the Appalachian League in 2019. Calfee Park has won league championships in 1948, 1969, 1986, 1991 and 2013. Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park opened in 1935 and was renovated for the team's first season as a Yankees affiliate in 2015. For more information, please visit www.pulaskiyankees.net or follow the Pulaski Yankees on social media, @PulaskiYanks (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.