Fireworks of the baseball variety… E-Twins launch three homers to topple Mets, 6-2
Published 6:00 am Monday, July 8, 2019
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A Kingsport Mets baserunner hustles back to the bag at first as Elizabethton pitcher Ben Gross tries for the pickoff.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Patriotism was on display everywhere at Northeast Community Ball Park as exhitbited by this toddler on Thursday evening.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twins right fielder Matt Wallner has shades down and a bead on a fly ball to retire a Kingsport batter in Fourth of July action from Northeast Community Credit Union Ball Park.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders An overflow crowd of 1,598 fans filled the stands at Northeast Community Credit Union Ball Park for Thursday's Fourth of July contest against the Kingsport Mets. The fans were treated to a great game and fireworks after the contest.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A young fan races to beat the clock in a game that took place between innings of the E-Twins and Kingsport Mets on Thursday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton designated hitter Albee Weiss takes a big cut at a pitch. Weiss smacked his fourth roundtripper of the season in the sixth to help the E-Twins snap a three-game losing streak.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twins catcher Alex isola gets a handshake from third base coach Jeff Reed after Isola belted a two-run homer to give Elizabethton a 2-1 lead. It was Isola's first home run of the season.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Seats were at a premium for the Independence Day baseball game at Northeast Community Credit Union Ball Park.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Mets shortstop Sebastian Espino awaits the throw as E-Twins first baseman Trevor Jensen attempts a steal. Jensen was out on the play which was backed up by second baseman Gregory Guerrero of Kingsport.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton starting pitcher Ben Gross (2-0) brings the heat during Thursday's action on Joe O'Brien Field.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A Kingsport Mets baserunner dives back into the first base bag as E-Twin first baseman Trevor Jensen awaits the throw.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Concession sales were booming on Thursday night at Northeast Community Credit Union Ball Park as fans looked to enjoy some cold refreshments to beat the Fourth of July heat.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A young baseball fan enjoys some pizza during Thursday's baseball game between Kingsport and Elizabethton.
BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
With both teams riding three-game losing streaks something had to give on Thursday at Northeast Community Credit Union ballpark when Kingsport came to visit on July 4.
The fireworks began earlier than expected with the Twins bashing three home runs in this contest to take a 6-2 win.
The Mets (7-9) grabbed the early lead with an infield hit from leadoff man Jhoander Saez. He swiped second base and went to third on an errant throw from catcher Alex Isola.
He came in to score on a ground ball from Jaylen Palmer for a 1-0 Kingsport lead.
In the last of the second inning, Isola made up for his miscue with a moon shot, two-run homer to left field with Matt Wallner aboard to give the Twins a 2-1 lead. For Isola, it was his first professional home run.
“It’s all about having a good routine and not taking any days off,” Isola said. “You just have to be prepared for when it’s your time and we get a lot of work in with the coaches.
“I would be lying if I said I didn’t know I got it though.”
Righthander Ben Gross (2-0, 2.81) got the start for the Twins and he lasted six innings. Gross surrendered two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk over his six innings of work.
“It all starts with the pitching,” Twins manager Ray Smith said. “Gross wasn’t as sharp as his last time out, but he was pretty good still. He shut down a pretty good free swinging offensive club.
“(Willie Joe) Garry Jr. is working hard and improving. He’s still growing and he’s going to be a pretty big guy, but I don’t think I have seen him hit a ball like the one he hit tonight, even in batting practice.”
Kingsport tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth when a pitch hit catcher Wilfred Astudillo and Cole Kleszcz.
Astudillo scored on an RBI single from Tanner Murphy.
Albee Weiss crushed his fourth homer of the season in the sixth as the Twins took a 4-2 lead.
Shortstop Spencer Steer opened the frame with a walk and went to third on a single from third baseman Charlie Mack.
Steer scored on a double-play grounder from right fielder Seth Gray and Weiss took a 1-1 delivery from Mets reliever Brendan Hardy over the fence in left field.
In the seventh, Willie Joe Garry, Jr. smashed a two-run homer – his first – over the fence in right field against Hardy to make it a 6-2 Twins lead.
“I have been working on my timing, getting my timing down,” Garry, Jr. said. “I have been taking extra reps with the pitching machine.
“I’m trying to establish myself as a five-tool player. I know I’m not there yet, but it’s listening to the coaches and trying to get better.”
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E-Twins 6-2
Kingsport 100 100 000 – 2 7 1
E-Twins 020 002 20x – 6 5 1
W – Gross L – Hardy
