Cardinals rally to stun Reds, 9-7

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- In a back-and-forth affair, it was the visitors that had the final say. C Zach Jackson clubbed a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the ninth, as the Johnson City Cardinals defeated the Greeneville Reds, 9-7, in front of 1,226 fans at Pioneer Park on Friday night.
With the loss, Greeneville dropped to 17-24 on the season. Johnson City's victory improved their mark to 19-22.
Tied at seven in the top of the ninth, CF Brandon Riley (1-2, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB) reached on a leadoff walk. With one out, Jackson (2-5, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 SO) stroked a 3-2 pitch around the right-field foul pole for a two-run homer. The blast - his second of the year - put Johnson City in front, 9-7.
RHP Jacob Sylvester (2.1 IP, H, BB, 2 SO) remained on for the bottom of the ninth and retired the side in order to close out the win for the Cardinals and his second triumph of the season.
Greeneville held a 7-4 lead heading into the top of the seventh before Johnson City's offense evened the tide. The Redbirds saturated the bases on a hit-by-pitch and consecutive walks. After a passed ball made it a two-run game, RF Andrew Warner (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI, SO) smacked an RBI single into left to cut the Cards' deficit to one, 7-6. Following a pitching change, Jackson smashed a double into right to drive home the tying run and knot the contest at seven.
Johnson City jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. LF Jonatan Machado (1-5, R, SO) singled to start the contest and advanced to second on a wild pitch. DH Carlos Soto (2-4, R, 2B, RBI, BB, SO) would crack a double off the right-center field fence for a double to put the Redbirds up 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, Greeneville tied it up. RF Brian Rey (1-5, R, RBI) singled to left to ignite the rally and LF Reniel Ozuna (2-4, R, 2B, BB) followed with a base-hit to right. A fielding error in the outfield permitted Rey to score all the way from first on the knock, tying it at one.
After 3B Nolan Gorman (1-5, R, HR, RBI) crushed a solo home run - his 10th of the year - to right-center in the top of the third, the Redlegs came back with a tally of their own in the fourth. Ozuna mashed a one-out double down the left-field line and scored two batters later on a single to left from 3B Claudio Finol (1-3, RBI, BB).
Following a go-ahead RBI fielder's choice from Riley in the fifth, the G-Reds jumped in front in the bottom of the fifth. Consecutive singles from CF Mike Siani (2-4, 2 R, BB, SO) and DH Nate Scantlin (1-4, 2 R, 2 SO) began the attack. 1B Rylan Thomas (2-4, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB, SO) then proceeded to clang a ball off the left-field wall for a two-bagger - scoring Siani - and tying the game at three. A hook slide from Scantlin on a fielder's choice from Rey put Greeneville in front, 4-3, while a balk enabled Thomas to make it a two-run advantage.
Warner's solo blast to left - his first in the Appalachian League - drew the Cards back to 5-4 in the top of the sixth, but, yet again, the Reds had an answer. With first and second and two outs, Thomas hit a blooper into shallow right. A diving attempt in the outfield came up empty, as both runners scampered home on the 21-year-old's second two base-hit of the evening, allowing the Reds to take a 7-4 edge.
Neither starter factored into the decision on Friday night. RHP Josiah Gray (4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO) did not have his best stuff but battled through four innings for Greeneville. His counterpart - RHP Cole Aker (5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) - exited with his squad trailing, but took a no-decision for Johnson City.
It was a rough night for RHP Johnnie Schneider (2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO). The Clearwater, Fla. native suffered a blown save and the loss - his second of the year - out of the bullpen.
The Redlegs will look to even the series up on Saturday night in the First Annual Boyd Sports Family Reunion at Smokies Stadium. RHP Miguel Medrano (1-2, 6.89 ERA) is expected to make the start for Greeneville, while RHP Kyle Leahy (1-1, 3.66 ERA) is projected to toe the slab for Johnson City.
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 Smokies Stadium. Saturday night's contest can be heard on GreenevilleReds.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
Fans who come out to the special affair - combining all three teams owned and/or operated by Boyd Sports - will be treated to a pre-game autograph session featuring both teams, as well as a postgame fireworks display.

Season and 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.