Diaz's dinger gives Cards walk-off win, 3-2

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Down to their final out and trailing by a run, SS Imeldo Diaz played hero for the second time in three days, as his game-winning, walk-off home run gave the Johnson City Cardinals a 3-2 victory over the Greeneville Astros in front of 2,456 fans on Thursday night at TVA Credit Union Ballpark.
With the win, Johnson City improved their overall record to 33-27 and gave them a two-game lead over Greeneville for the final playoff spot in the Appalachian League western division. The Astros' defeat dropped them to 31-29 on the campaign.
Behind 2-1 with two outs in the ninth, DH Luis Bandes (1-4, R, 2B, SO) smashed the first pitch he saw down the right-field line for a double. After being removed for pinch-runner Carlos Talavera , Diaz (2-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB) stepped up to the dish. On a 2-1 offering, the Venezuelan native hammered a ball over the left-center field wall for a walk-off two-run homer. The blast - his fifth of the year - gave Johnson City a 3-2 victory.
The game-ending dinger was the first for the Cardinals since OF Walker Robbins hit one on opening night in the 13th inning against the Bristol Pirates. This was also the second game-winning home run hit by Diaz in three days, as he spanked a go-ahead two-run blast on the road against the Elizabethton Twins on Tuesday evening.
Greeneville had taken the lead for the first time in the top of the ninth. 1B Roman Garcia (2-4, R, SO) and 3B Brody Westmoreland (1-4, 2 SO) singled, while RF Patrick Mathis (0-3, BB, 2 SO) walked to load the bases. LHP Jacob Patterson (0.2 IP) emerged from the bullpen and on the first pitch he threw C Oscar Campos (0-3, RBI) lofted a fly ball to right. Garcia scored on the sacrifice fly - putting the Astros ahead 2-1 - but Mathis was thrown out trying to advance to second, ending the inning.
Johnson City initially jumped in front in the seventh, as Diaz started the rally with a two-out single to center. 3B Stanley Espinal (1-3, 3B, RBI, SO) then slapped a 1-2 delivery down the left-field line. Diaz scored from first, while Espinal slid into to third with a triple, giving the Redbirds a 1-0 edge.
The Astros tied it up in the top of the eighth on a two-base fielding error and a RBI single to left-center by SS Juan Pineda (3-4, RBI, SO).
RHP Zach Prendergast (7.0 IP, 4 H, 12 SO) was masterful in a no-decision on Thursday. The 22-year-old hurled seven shutout innings and struck out a career-high 12, including five of the last six batters he faced. Patterson (0.2 IP) recorded two outs in the ninth to earn his first professional victory.
His counterpart - LHP Jhoan Acosta (3.0 IP, 4 SO) - retired all nine batters he faced - striking out four of them - in three spotless innings for Greeneville. LHP Maikel Sepulveda (2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 SO) surrendered all three runs for the Astros, taking his second defeat of the year.
Johnson City will look capture the rubber match and their 10th series in 12 tries, as RHP Franyel Casadilla (1-5 .787 ERA) is slated to take the hill in the series finale. Greeneville is projected to counter with RHP Jheyson Caraballo (1-2, 3.58 ERA).
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 TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Friday evening's contest can be heard on JCCardinals.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
It will be Mystery Bobblehead Night at the ballpark as the first 250 fans through the gates will receive a mystery bobblehead courtesy of the U.S. Army, Kolona Fitness and Sleep Number.
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.