KINGSPORT -- Greeneville scored six runs in the
first three innings, then settled down to play good defense behind clutch pitching and blanked the
Kingsport Mets 8-0 in the final game of a three-game season-opening series here Thursday
night.
The Astros won the rubber game of the series and will head into
tonight's home opener with a 2-1 record. Greeneville will take on the Danville Braves, who are
unbeaten (3-0) after sweeping Burlington in their opening series of the year. Game time is 7 p.m. at
Pioneer Park. Fireworks will follow tonight's ball game.
First round
draft choice Jordan Lyles saw his first professional action Thursday against the Mets, hurling the
first two innings. The high school standout from Hartsville, S.C., pitched two innings and gave up
three hits. David Dinelli came on to pitch the next three innings and got the victory, allowing only
one hit during his stint. Zachary Grimmett and Colton Pitkin each worked two perfect innings for
Greeneville.
The Astros got a run in the first inning on Jay Austin's
lead-off single, a steal of second, a move to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jose Altuve, and Renzo
Tello's sacrifice fly to the outfield.
Greeneville got two more runs off
starter Guillaume Leduc in the second. Nathan Metroka reached on a one-out walk and Jorge De Leon
doubled to the gap in left-center, with Metroka scoring. De Leon then scored on Wilton Infante's
base hit.
Lyles ran into some trouble in the bottom of the second as two
base hits and a hit batsman left the bases loaded with two outs. But he was able to coax an infield
grounder by Daniel Stegall to end the threat.
The Astros made it 6-0 with
three runs in the third. Jay Austin doubled to start it, moved to third on a groundout, and scored
on a wild pitch. Renzo Tello then singled and Kody Hinze walked. Dionel Montas got a base hit to
score Tello, and Pedro Gonzalez brought in another run with a base
hit.
Greeneville tacked on two more runs in the seventh. Tello had a
double and Montas walked. With two out, Gonzalez rifled a double that scored Tello, and Montas later
scored on a Mets error.
*Kingsport has already made a managerial change
this early in the season. Nick Leyva was called up to the Major Leagues on Thursday prior to the
game with the Astros, forcing the Mets to name Kevin Morgan, the Mets' Coordinator of Instruction
and Infield Coordinator who happened to be in town for the K-Mets' first six games, as interim
manager.
*After making five errors in Wednesday night's loss, the Astros
played errorless baseball on Thursday.
*In addition to post-game
fireworks sponsored by Central Park tonight, Greene County Express is sponsoring a magnet schedule
giveway to fans entering the stadium for the contest.