Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Star Correspondent

On Friday night at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark, the River Riders saw the Tri-State Coal Cats exploit their relief pitching with a five-run seventh-inning rally that upended a 3-2 Elizabethton lead, resulting in a 7-3 loss.

The River Riders’ (12-20) starting pitching has been solid most of this season, but the wheels seem to fall off when the opposition gets into their bullpen.

“We don’t have the wins we want, of course, but the guys are improving every game and that’s all I can ask for,” River Riders manager Jeremy Owens said. “I don’t know how this season ends, but we are going to show up every day and we will play hard.”

The Coal Cats struck for a run in the top of the third on a home run from Miguel Rodriguez – his second of the season. In the bottom of the third, the Riders evened the score. With one out, second baseman Carlos Irizarry walked and went to third on a single from left fielder Cole Torbett. Irizarry scored on a sacrifice fly from catcher Jayden Lobliner to make it a 1-1 contest.

In the top of the fourth, Carlos Gonzalez-Febo doubled and scored on a single from Issac Turner for a 2-1 Coal Cats lead. In the bottom of the fifth, the River Riders took a 3-2 advantage on a walk to third baseman James Woody and a single from Irizarry.

Torbett then reached on a throwing error from Gonzalez-Febo, which allowed Woody to score the tying run. Lobliner’s groundout plated Irizarry for a one-run advantage.

Colin Murphy started on the mound for Elizabethton, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing two runs – one earned – on seven hits. Murphy walked two and struck out six before giving way to Zane Danielson.

Danielson went 1.2 innings, giving up one hit with one walk and one strikeout, taking a 3-2 lead into the seventh frame. In the top of the seventh, the Coal Cats got to side-arming right-hander Johnny Montgomery.

C.J. Richard walked, and one out later, Chase Chaplin was hit by a pitch. Gonzalez-Febo was also plunked by Montgomery to load the bases. Jeff Martz walked to force home the tying run, and Evan Saulys replaced Montgomery (0-3, 6.48 ERA).

Jack Smith greeted Saulys with a grand slam home run – his first home run of the season – and his blast made it 7-3.

Coal Cats 7, River Riders 3

Tri-State 001 100 500 – 7 10 3

River Riders 001 020 000 – 3 6 2

W – Kayden Jacobi (1-3)

L – Montgomery (0-3)