CARDS RETURN FOR SIX-GAME HOMESTAND AFTER WRAPPING SERIES IN GREENEVILLE

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - The Johnson City Cardinals will return home to begin a six-game homestand after dropping the series finale to the Greeneville Reds Thursday at Pioneer Park. The Cardinals fell 10-0.
The fun-filled homestand will run June 28 through July 3. The Kingsport Mets will help the Cardinals kick off their longest home stretch of the season Friday at 6:30 p.m. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. 
It will be Fireworks Friday for the first time in 2019 at TVA Credit Union Ballpark sponsored by the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Fans are invited to stick around after the game for a spectacular skylight display. The fun will continue Saturday with an Andrew Knizner Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 750 fans and Sunday with a powder blue Cardinals t-shirt giveaway for the first 500 fans.
Julio Puello (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound for the Cardinals (4-4) Thursday in Greeneville. He surrendered six runs (six earned) on 10 hits in five innings of work. Alex Gallegos and Cameron Dulle each carded scoreless frames in relief.
Allan Cerda propelled the Reds (5-4) to the win at Pioneer Park. He picked up four hits, including a pair of home runs, on his way to a career-best seven RBIs. Reds starter Graham Ashcraft (1-1) earned the win after posting five scoreless innings. Only Zach Jackson and Ben Baird picked up hits for the Cardinals.
The weekend fun at TVA Credit Union Ballpark will also feature the first Sound Off Saturday of the year. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and fans are invited to enjoy live music on the concourse presented by Campbell's Morell Music. 
The Cardinals will meet the first-place Mets for the first three games of the homestand. The Mets (6-3) currently lead the Appalachian West by 1.5 games over the Cardinals. Dalton Roach (0-0, 17.18 ERA) is expected to start for Johnson City. RHP Benito Garcia (0-0, 2.45 ERA) will get the ball for Kingsport. 
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]