Twins blast Blue Jays… Gray’s three hits propel Elizabethton to 13-6 win
Published 6:00 am Saturday, June 22, 2019
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Alex Isola is narrowly retired on a nice scoop by the Blue Jay's first baseman.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twin centerfielder Tyler Webb is locked in on a fly ball as shortstop Daniel Ozoria goes out to back up the play.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Matt Wallner slaps a single in the bottom of the first inning of Thursday's game against the Bluefield Blue Jays.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Charles Mack of Elizabethton can't avoid the pitch as he was awarded a base after being hit.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twins shortstop Daniel Ozoria takes a cut at an offering in Elizabethton's soggy game against the Bluefield Blue Jays.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton starting pitcher Ben Gross prepares to deliver a pitch to the plate. Gross tossed four innings of baseball allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out two Blue Jay batters.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton Twins Community Relations and Marketing Director Kassi Butcher hands a baseball to Mrs. Lisa Pearce to throw out the first pitch in Thursday's game. Pearce and her late husband, Terry, have been faithful attendees of the Twins home games for many years.
BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
CORRESPONDENT
One night after being shut out, the Elizabethton Twins responded with a 12 hit, 13 run performance in beating Bluefield 13-6 on Thursday night at Northeast Community Credit Union ballpark.
Elizabethton (2-1) jumped out to a quick lead in the last of the first on a hit batter and an RBI double from Tyler Webb.
Rightfielder Matt Wallner made his professional debut from Southern Mississippi University as he singled home Webb for a 2-0 Twins lead.
A Twins infield error in the top of the second helped Bluefield plate a run with Scotty Bradley singling home P.K. Morris who singled with one out.
In the third frame, the Twins plated four runs with designated hitter Charlie Mack leading off with a double to left.
Webb drove in his fourth run of the young season with a double down the third base line for a 3-1 Twins lead.
With runners at the corners and two away, catcher Alex Isola delivered an RBI single and shortstop Daniel Ozaria walked to load the bases.
Reliever Juan Acosta came on for Jays starter Felipe Castaneda and he balked in the fourth run on the slippery, wet mound and the Twins took a 6-1 lead.
Twins starter Ben Gross made his professional debut on this night as well and he went four innings – facing three hitters in the fifth allowing two singles and an RBI double – in giving up four runs on seven hits.
He walked two and struck out two and was not involved in the decision.
“That first inning he was tough,” Twins manager Ray Smith said of Gross. “He was pounding the zone mixing in a late, breaking ball and popping the fastball.
“After that, he lost his feel a little bit and lost location a little bit.”
The Twins led 6-4 after the top of the fifth with Spencer Horwitz doubling in a run for Bluefield and another scoring on a ground ball of the bat of Joseph Reyes.
In the last of the frame, the Twins plated six runs on two hits, with Bluefield pitchers issuing four walks and a hit batter along with a two-run, outfield error.
Seth Gray had two hits in the stanza with an RBI as Betsy now led 12-4. The Twins collected 12 hits in this one with Gray finishing 3-for-5 with one run batted in. Webb had three ribbies in the game giving him five for the season.
“I feel good and I’m seeing the ball well,” Webb said of his hot start. “Attacking the fastball and trying to get my pitch.
“After yesterday, it was zero after zero and tonight we put barrels on the ball. We did yesterday too but not with the same results.”
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E-Twins 13-6
Bluefield 010 120 002 – 6
E-Twins 204 060 01x -13
W – Bentley L – Casteneda
Appalachian League Standings
Appalachian League East
Club W L PCT GB
Burlington Royals (KC) 3 0 1.000 –
Danville Braves (ATL) 2 1 .667 1.0
Pulaski Yankees (NYY) 1 1 .500 1.5
Bluefield Blue Jays (TOR) 1 2 .333 2.0
Princeton Rays (TB) 1 2 .333 2.0
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Appalachian League West
Elizabethton Twins (MIN) 2 1 .667 –
Kingsport Mets (NYM) 2 1 .667 –
Johnson City Cardinals (STL) 1 1 .500 .5
Greeneville Reds (CIN) 1 2 .333 1.0
Bristol Pirates (PIT) 0 3 .000 2.0
