Mets top Reds in back-and-forth affair, 9-6

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - 3B Jonathan Willems cracked the first ever Reds home run at Pioneer Park, but the Kingsport Mets scored five straight runs from the sixth to the ninth to take the opening game of the series from Greeneville, 9-6, in front of 811 fans on Monday night.
The defeat is the G-Reds second straight, as they drop to 3-4 on the campaign. With the victory, Kingsport improved their record to an Appalachian League-best 6-1.
With Greeneville ahead 5-4 entering the sixth inning, Kingsport struck for three runs to grab the lead for good. CF Anthony Dirocie (3-4, 3 R, 2B, BB) started the frame with a double that deflected off the third baseman's mitt and moved to third on a balk. RF Raul Beracierta  (1-2, 4 R, RBI, 3 BB) promptly tied the game at five on the very next pitch with a single to right.
The Mets attack was not done there. Following a single by LF Guillermo Granadillo (3-4, R, RBI), DH L.A. Woodard (3-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI) stroked a double down the right-field line. Both runners scored to put Kingsport in the lead, 7-5.
Looking for insurance in the ninth, the K-Mets added two more tallies. Following back-to-back one-out walks, Granadillo and Woodard stroked consecutive RBI singles to extend the advantage to four, 9-5.
Greeneville added a run in the bottom of the frame on a passed ball, but that was as close as they would get.
The G-Reds held leads of 4-2 and 5-4 before Kingsport's offensive onslaught took control. Trailing 2-0, the Reds got on the board in the bottom of the second courtesy of a double by 2B Cash Case (3-5, R, 2B, 3B, RBI) and a sacrifice fly to center by SS Miguel Hernandez (1-3, R, 3B, RBI).
Thanks to the longball, Greeneville took their first lead in the third. Proceeding with a walk to LF Nate Scantlin (1-2, 2 R, 3 BB, SO), Willems (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI) stroked the first pitch he saw over the wall in right for a two-run home run. The clout - his first of the year and just the second of his professional career - was the Reds' first at Pioneer Park and put them in front, 3-2.
Following a walk to RF Reniel Ozuna (1-4, R, BB, SO), the Redlegs added another tally, as Case hit a high pop to right that was lost in the light. When all was said and done, the 19-year-old was at third with a triple, as Ozuna crossed home to put Greeneville up, 4-2.
Kingsport initially jumped out to a 2-0 advantage on a sacrifice fly by 1B Kenny Hernandez (0-4, RBI, 2 SO) in the first and a run-scoring double by Woodard in the second. Trailing 4-2, the K-Mets evened the tide in the fourth on a two-run knock by 3B Yoel Romero (1-5, 2 RBI, BB, SO). 
Greeneville's RHP Ricky Karcher (5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 SO) struggled with his command but bounced back from a rough first start to hurl five innings and left in line for the victory. RHP Liam McCall (2.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) failed to make it out of the third inning for Kingsport.
LHP Josh Walker (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 SO) hurled three innings of scoreless relief for the Mets, earning his first win of the year. RHP Johnnie Schneider (2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, SO) struggled in the sixth for the Reds, taking his first defeat of the campaign.
The Redlegs will look to earn a split of the two-game set on Tuesday night, as RHP Josiah Gray (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is set to make his second start of his professional career. RHP Jose Butto (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is expected to take the hill for Kingsport.
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. Tuesday night's contest can be heard on GreenevilleReds.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
It will be a $2 Tuesday at Pioneer Park featuring barbecue sandwiches, pizza, sweet tea, Bojangles sandwiches, and select draft beer options for only two dollars.
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.