ARMS SHINE AS CARDINALS MAKE IT FOUR STRAIGHT WINS

JOHNSON CITY - The Johnson City Cardinals made it four wins in a row with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Greeneville Reds in front of a spirited crowd of 3,088 Monday at TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Cardinal hurlers held the Reds scoreless over the final eight innings to move the team to a season-best four games over .500.
Francisco Justo (2-0) earned the win for the Cardinals. He allowed a run in the first on a two-out RBI single by Allan Cerda before turning around to post four straight scoreless frames. The righty struck out four while scattering five hits. His ERA now stands at 1.10 for the season.
The Cardinals quickly erased the 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the first when Zach Jackson picked up an RBI single to score Jhon Torres, who led the frame off with a double. The Cardinals took the lead later in the first on a sacrifice fly by Todd Lott to score Mateo Gil. Torres reached three times in the game. 
The comeback win was the seventh of the season for the Cardinals, who have overcome early deficits to win all four games so far on the homestand. Lott would later add a double in the fifth. Terry Fuller also picked up a double for the Cardinals. He reached twice and has been on 11 times in the last four games.
Wilberto Rivera entered in the sixth and began a string of four straight scoreless frames by the Cardinal relief corps to finish the game. Walker Robbins left a man on second in the seventh, and Alex Gallegos stranded men on the corners in the eighth before Cameron Dulle closed the game out in the ninth. Dulle earned his first pro save with a 1-2-3 final inning.
Juan Abril (0-2) suffered the loss for the Reds after allowing two runs (two earned) over 3.1 innings. The Reds outhit the Cardinals 7-6 but also committed the game's only error.
The Cardinals will look to clinch the series tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. ET. RHP Julio Puello (0-1, 5.91 ERA) is expected to start for the Cards. RHP Graham Ashcraft (1-1, 4.00 ERA) will get the ball for the Reds. First-place Johnson City now leads the Appalachian League West by 1.5 games over the Elizabethton.
The evening at TVA Credit Union Ballpark will be a Tacos and Tallboys Tuesday. Fans are invited to enjoy $2 tacos presented by Ole's Guacamoles as well as $2 Coronas and $2 Amber Ales. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. The full Johnson City Cardinals schedule for this season and season ticket information can be found 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 over 50 years. To learn more about the Johnson City Cardinals, visit www.jccardinals.com.
[STORY PHOTO BY ROBERT KELL]