Twins topple K-Mets once again, 7-1
Published 6:00 am Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Elizabethton first baseman Albee Weiss catches an infield pop fly for an out against the Mets.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Twins third baseman Seth Gray hits a monster ball over the right field wall for a two-run homer.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde E-Twins catcher Janigson Villalobos goes for a foul ball during Friday's game against the Kingsport Mets.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Elizabethton's Andiru Marin led the Twins pitching charge.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Max Smith of the E-Twins chases down a grounder down the third base line that resulted in a Kingsport Mets single.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Elizabethton third baseman Seth Gray looks for the call after an attempted tag out.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Elizabethton's Wille Joe Garry Jr. beats the ball to first base against the Kingsport Mets.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde E-Twins baserunner Willie Joe Garry Jr. barely escapes a pick off at first.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Elizabethton Twins outfielder Willie Joe Garry Jr. attempts to steal second base against the Mets.
BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Elizabethton Twins won their second in a row with a 7-1 decision over Kingsport on Friday night at Northeast Community Credit Union ballpark getting strong pitching from three hurlers who combined for 15 strikeouts.
The Twins (9-7) struck for three runs in the last of the third with left fielder Seth Gray connecting on his second home run of the season with second baseman Anthony Prado onboard with a single.
Prado’s base knock plated Willie Joe Garry, Jr. who opened the stanza with a single to right.
In the sixth inning, right fielder Matt Wallner followed an Albee Weiss single with a double to right and Max Smith’s sacrifice fly plated Weiss for a 4-0 Twins lead.
Righthander Andriu Marin pitched four complete innings in this one giving up no runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out six.
He was replaced in the fifth by lefty Denny Bentley and he lasted until the seventh when the Mets (7-10) began a rally.
“I was trying to stay ahead of the hitters and work outside,” Marin said through pitching coach Richard Salazar who translated. “I have been working on being consistent, working the corners inside and outside and not leaving pitches in the middle of the plate.”
Sebastian Espino singled to center and Kennie Taylor doubled to Garry Jr. in center.
Garry Jr’s. relay throw came to Weiss who gunned down Espino at the plate with Taylor advancing to second on the play.
After Scott Ota singled home Taylor, Bentley was replaced by Frandy Torres and he retired Jaylen Palmer and Brett Baty on strikes leaving the Twins with a 4-1 lead.
Torres pitched 2.2 innings and earned his first save of the season. Torres struck out five and did not allow a hit over that span.
The Twins tacked on some insurance runs in the eighth on a two-run double from catcher Janigson Villalobos that plated Wallner who had walked and Smith who singled.
A passed ball moved Villalobos to third and a wild pitch allowed him to score.
Bentley (2-0, 3.97) was credited with the win. Second baseman Spencer Steer and Garry, Jr. each had two hits to lead the team with Gray and Villalobos each collecting two ribbies.
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E-Twins 7-1
Kingsport 000 000 100 – 1 7 0
E-Twins 003 001 03x – 7 11 2
W – Bentley (2-0) L – Santos (0-3)
