Astros walk-off Cardinals in heartbreaker, 6-5

Greeneville scores four in ninth, one in 11th to stun Johnson City

RHP Jake Walsh struck out four batters in one inning, as the Johnson City Cardinals fell to the Greeneville Astros, 6-5, in 11 innings on Thursday night at Pioneer Park. (Bret Jacomet)

July 6, 2017

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Despite holding a 5-1 lead with one out in the bottom of the ninth, the Johnson City could not hang on, as the Greeneville Astros scored four in the ninth and one in the 11th to walk-off the Cardinals, 6-5, on Thursday night at Pioneer Park.With the loss,

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Despite holding a 5-1 lead with one out in the bottom of the ninth, the Johnson City could not hang on, as the Greeneville Astros scored four in the ninth and one in the 11th to walk-off the Cardinals, 6-5, on Thursday night at Pioneer Park.
With the loss, Johnson City has lost four in-a-row and drop below .500 for the first time this season at 7-8. Greeneville captured it fifth straight win with the victory and improved to 10-4 on the year.
With the Cardinals in front, 5-1, 3B Brody Westmoreland (1-4, R, 2 BB, 2 SO) and DH Colton Shaver (0-2, 2 R, 3 BB, SO) drew free passes and moved up to second and third on a wild pitch. 1B Roman Garcia (1-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SO) followed with a two-run double to make it a 5-3 ballgame.
Following a walk to C Martin Figueroa (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB), Adrian Tovalin (1-1, RBI) came up to pinch-hit and whacked a run-scoring single to center, cutting the Johnson City edge to 5-4. With pinch-hitter Frankeny Fernandez (0-0, IBB) at the plate, a pickoff throw went to first. Figueroa broke towards third and the relay towards the base was off the mark. The Greeneville catcher scored on the errant toss to tie at five.
In the 11th, Shaver walked to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After another walk to Figueroa, SS Cody Bohanek (1-1, RBI) poked a single to right-center. Shaver scored from second with the winning run to give the Astros a 6-5 victory.
Johnson City jumped out to a four-run advantage thanks to a four-run eighth inning. C Cameron Knight (1-5, R, 3 SO) singled to left and CF Carlos Talavera (0-3, R) laid down a sacrifice bunt. The throw to first was wild, as Knight scored from first to put the Birds ahead, 2-1. DH J.D. Murders (1-3, R, RBI) followed with a RBI single to center to stretch the advantage to 3-1.
After a two-out free pass to 1B Carlos Rodriguez (1-4, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB, 2 SO), 1B Luis Bandes (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) dunked a blooper into right-center. Both runners scored, as Bandes moved to second with a double to give the Cardinals a 5-1 edge.
Greeneville scored its first run in the second on a RBI single by RF Chas McCormick (3-3, RBI) to go ahead, 1-0. Johnson City tied it in the fourth on a solo home run by Rodriguez, his third of the year.
Neither starter received a decision on Thursday. RHP Alvaro Seijas (6.0 IP, 8 H, R, ER, BB, 5 SO) yielded five hits, but earned a quality start after allowing just one run over six innings for the Cardinals. Astros' RHP Hansel Paulino (6.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 7 SO) struck out seven over six innings.
RHP Willy Collado (3.1 IP, H, 5 SO) garnered his first win for Greeneville, issuing just one hit over 3.1 innings. RHP Robert Calvano (2.0 IP, H, 2 R, ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) suffered a blown save and his third loss for Johnson City.
Cardinals' RHP Jake Walsh (2.0 IP, H, BB, 5 SO) was excellent in relief for the Redbirds, striking out four batters in one inning during a scoreless eighth.
The Cardinals will look to get back in the win column on Friday, as they travel to Elizabethton to take on the Twins, the rookie league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. RHP Johan Oviedo (1-0, 2.00 ERA) - St. Louis' No. 26 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com - is expected to take the mound for Johnson City. RHP Melvi Acosta (2-0, 4.91 ERA) is slated to make the start for in the series opener for the E-Twins.
The Cardinals Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:45 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:00 p.m. ET start at Joe O'Brien Field. Friday evening's contest can be heard on NBCSportsTriCities.com, JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps.
Following the road trip, the Cardinals will return to open up a three-game homestand against the Bristol Pirates, the rookie affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on Wednesday, July 12. It will be the Cardinals' All-You-Can-Eat Night, as fans can purchase a special wristband and enjoy all-you-can-eat on select food items.
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.