Bellinger's walk-off leads Reds to twinbill split

23-year-old collects first walk-off in team history, 7-6, in nightcap; Mets take lid-lifter, 5-0

1B Justin Bellinger is mobbed by his teammates after his walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh - the first in franchise history - as Greeneville completed a five-run comeback, defeating Kingsport, 7-6, in game two of a doubleheader in front of 2,359 fans at Pioneer Park on Sunday evening. The Mets topped the Reds in game one, 5-0. (Brian McLeod / MiLB.com)

By Justin Rocke

August 19, 2018

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- 1B Justin Bellinger 's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh capped a five-run comeback, notching the first walk-off in franchise history, as Greeneville took game two of a doubleheader over Kingsport, 7-6. The Mets captured game one of the twinbill, beating the Reds, 5-0, in front of

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- 1B Justin Bellinger 's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh capped a five-run comeback, notching the first walk-off in franchise history, as Greeneville took game two of a doubleheader over Kingsport, 7-6. The Mets captured game one of the twinbill, beating the Reds, 5-0, in front of 2,359 fans at Pioneer Park on Sunday evening.
With the doubleheader split, the Redlegs have now won five of their last six and moved to 25-33 on the season. After the double-dip, the Mets remain at .500 on the year at 29-29.
Trailing 6-5 going to the bottom of the seventh in game two, 3B Claudio Finol (2-4, 2 R) sparked the winning rally with a single to left. Following a walk to DH Rylan Thomas (0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SO), RF Reniel Ozuna (3-3, R, 2 RBI, BB) laced a base-hit to right. Finol scored from second to tie the game up at six. Ahead in the count 3-0, Bellinger (1-3, RBI, BB, SO) roped a grounder through the left side of the infield - bringing home Thomas with the winning tally - giving the Reds a 7-6 triumph.
Despite being held scoreless for the first 12 innings of the twinbill, Greeneville bounced back to score five in the sixth to tie. Much like the winning rally, Finol singled, Thomas walked, and Ozuna singled to bring a man home to trim the deficit to 5-1. Both runners moved to second and third on a fly out to center before things got interesting.
On a 3-2 pitch, 2B Jonathan Willems (1-3, R, 2B, 2 SO) struck out on a pitch in the dirt. The ball was scooped by the catcher, but the throw down to first to complete the strikeout was wild. The throwing error allowed Thomas to score and Willems to advanced to second, as the G-Reds pulled within 5-2. SS Miguel Hernandez (2-3, R, 2 RBI, SO) cut it to one with a two-run knock to left-center and C Rob Boselli (1-3, RBI) tied it up at five with an RBI single to right.
3B Mark Vientos (3-3, 2B, 4 RBI, BB) produced a majority of the offense for Kingsport in the nightcap. The 18-year-old gave the K-Mets the lead back with a run-scoring single in the top of the seventh, while also contributing an RBI base-hit in the third and a two-run double to right-center in the fifth. Kingsport scored their other two tallies in game two on a run-scoring groundout and an RBI single from CF Jarred Kelenic (1-3, R, 2 RBI, BB)
Neither starter factored into the decision in the finale. RHP Ricky Karcher (2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) failed to make it out of the third for Greeneville and RHP Nate Peden (5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) issued three runs - one earned - in 5.2 frames for Kingsport.
Even though he yielded a run in the seventh, RHP Cory Heitler (1.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, SO) garnered his second win of the year for the Reds. K-Mets RHP Nelson Leon (0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB) registered only one out in the seventh, suffering his third blown save and his second defeat.
It was all Kingsport in game one of the double-dip, thanks in large part due to the tremendous pitching performance from RHP Dedniel Nunez (6.0 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 9 SO). The 22-year-old punched out a season-best nine over six scoreless innings to earn his fourth win of the year.
RHP Alexis Diaz (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) was solid for Greeneville - striking out seven over five innings of work - but was saddled with his third-straight defeat.
DH L.A. Woodard (2-2, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) put the Mets in front in the fourth inning of the lid-lifter courtesy of a two-run double down the left-field line. Kingsport scratched three more across in the sixth against the Reds' bullpen on a RF Guillermo Granadillo (1-3, R, 2B, RBI, SO) double, a sacrifice fly to center by LF Yoel Romero (0-3, RBI, 2 SO), and an infield single by CF Jarred Kelenic (1-4, RBI, 3 SO).
The Redlegs will go for their second consecutive series victory on Monday night with RHP Daniel De La Fuente (0-1, 7.04 ERA) scheduled to take the ball in game three. RHP Garrison Bryant (1-2, 4.54 ERA) is projected to start for the Mets in the finale.
The G-Reds 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 Pioneer Park. Monday evening's contests can be heard on GreenevilleReds.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps.
It will be a Dollar Monday at the ballpark, as fans can purchase and enjoy hot dogs, popcorn, candy, chips, and select beer options for only one dollar.
Single-game tickets are still available and can be purchased online at GreenevilleReds.com or by calling the Reds' Ticket Office at (423) 609-7400.