BRISTOL—With their 7-0 shutout of the Bristol Pirates Friday night, the Twins advanced to the top of the Appalachian League West.

The Twins’ record improved to 27-24, enough to top both the Greeneville Astros (26-24) and the Kingsport Mets (26-24), who are tied for second.

Friday, after two scoreless innings, Elizabethton unleashed a four-run deluge on the Pirates in the top of the third frame.

The Twins’ got started with Alex Perez making his way home off a walk. The Twins’ Daniel Kihle continued the scoring, when he brought home both LaMonte Wade and A.J. Murray with a line drive single to right fielder Nick Buckner. Travis Blankerhorn, who was walked, grabbed the Twins’ last run of the third.

After a three inning scoring drought, the Twins did it again in the seventh as they posted three runs, with all three coming from the bat of Daniel Kihle, who slammed his first home run of the season, bringing home both Amaurys Minier and Blankerhorn.

Kihle’s homer gave the Twins their 38th home run of the season, moving them to second in home runs behind Pulaski, which has 43.

Elizabethton’s Onesimo Hernandez recorded his fifth win on the season. Hernandez opened on the mound for the Twins and threw for seven innings, recording eight strikeouts against zero walks, and finishing the night with just four hits against him.

Hernandez handed the ball over to Tyler Stirewalt in the eighth. Stirewalt closed things up for Elizabethton and recorded three strikeouts, with one hit against.

The Twins will play one more with the Pirates on Saturday, before coming home on Sunday to host Danville for three games.