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GREENEVILLE–The Elizabethton River Riders (11-12) defeated the Greeneville Flyboys (11-12) on Sunday in seven innings by a final score of 3-0. Starting pitcher Jackson Holmes went seven innings, giving up no runs or hits, only allowing a walk and a hit by pitch while striking out eight.

Holmes’ no-no was the first in the Appalachian League this season. The closest before came on Thursday when the Burlington Sock Puppets took a combined no-hitter into the ninth against the Johnson City Doughboys.

Elizabethton was able to get on the board first in the top of the third inning. The inning got started with a single by center fielder Brendan Jones, who stole second and reached third on a throwing error on the steal. Right fielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu brought home Jones on a single of his own. Another run would score in the frame when designated hitter Harrison Rodgers scored on a sacrifice fly. After three innings, E-Town led 2-0.

The River Riders tacked one more on in the top of the fourth. After a one-out single, left fielder Issac Williams stole second base. He would score on a double off the bat of Jones, making it 3-0 at the game’s halfway point.

Holmes would allow his first baserunner in the bottom of the fourth, after retiring the first ten Flyboy hitters that he saw. Center fielder Saborn Campbell was hit by a pitch in the hand, and he would be replaced by Jordan Hamberg. However, Holmes got out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout.

The River Rider starter would run into a bit more trouble in the bottom of the fifth. Designated hitter Aidan Cannaday led off the inning with a walk. Holmes then got two strikeouts and a flyout to center field to end the threat.

After a 1-2-3 sixth, Holmes was only three outs away from history. The first man standing in the way was first baseman Avery Collins, who Holmes was able to strikeout after falling behind in the count 2-0. Next was second baseman Jack O’Reilly, who flew out to Owusu-Asiedu in the gap. Lastly, there was Cannaday, who hit a ground ball up the middle that was fielded by shortstop Ty Peters. Peters, who was playing in a shift up the middle, made the throw over to first baseman Alex McCoy for the final out of the no-no.

Elizabethton will return to action on Tuesday night after a league-wide off day on Monday. They will begin a series with the Bristol State Liners, with the first pitch from Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark will be at 7 p.m. Greeneville will travel to Princeton to take on the WhistlePigs. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

Final/7                   R   H   E

River Riders          3    8    0

Flyboys                   0    0    1

 

W: Jackson Holmes (2-0)

L: Tyler Blankenship (0-2)