Greene horn

Astros take series from O’s

By BRIAN WOODSON

BLUEFIELD — Matt Hobgood’s second professional start was no walk in the park. Brandon Holloway might have settled for a few walks.

While Hobgood walked three batters and allowed three runs, it was Holloway — a product of Bluefield College — who took the loss when the Greeneville Astros rallied for two runs in the seventh inning for a 6-4 Appalachian League over the Bluefield Orioles in front of 1,147 spectators on Thursday night at Bowen Field.

The game featured the second appearance in Bluefield for Hobgood, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound right-handed pitcher, who was Baltimore’s top pick and the fifth overall selection in June’s draft.

Hobgood threw 41 pitches in two innings on the mound, striking out three, walking three, allowing one hit and three runs, although only one of those was earned. He worked one inning last Saturday, allowing two hits and a run, while striking out one.

While Bluefield (15-15) rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead in the fifth, Greeneville (14-16) rallied for two runs in the seventh off Holloway (2-2).

Singles by Jiovannni Mier and pinch-hitter Frank Almonte and a walk to Kyle Miller was followed with a two-out bloop single to right field by Nathan Metroka.

Greeneville added an insurance run in the eighth on singles by Carlos Mojica, who came home on a base hit by Miguel Arrendall off Dave Walters, the fourth of Bluefield’s four pitchers in the game.

Jorge Almanzar replaced Hobgood in the third and kept the Astros off the board until the seventh, allowing four hits in four innings on the mound.

Bluefield had six hits and four runs off Greeneville starter Gabriel Garcia, who entered the game having allowed 40 hits in 17 innings, while posting an ERA of 13.24.

The Orioles, which had eight hits in the game, had just two over the final 4 2/3 innings off Joan Belliard, who improved to 1-2, and Jeiler Castillo, who retired the side in order in the ninth for his second save.

Bluefield fell behind 3-0 after Greeneville’s first two at-bats, but the Orioles scored the next four, taking the lead for the only time in the fifth when Javier Santana tripled to right field and scored when Greeneville center fielder Wilson Infante dropped a low liner off the bat of Gary Helmick.

Bluefield moved within 3-2 in the second by scoring a pair of two-out runs. Janensis Guerrero doubled off the left field fence and scored on a single by Larry Rivera, who moved to second on an error and was driven in by a Santana single.

Mikey Planeta, who had the game-winning hit in Wednesday’s 10-inning win over the Astros, hit a solo home run in the fourth to tie the score at 3-3.

Greeneville took a 1-0 lead in the first, scoring an unearned run. Arrendall and Mier drew walks to open the game, and one out later, Kyle Miller hit a ground ball to Santana at shortstop. He stepped on second for the force, but Mier banged into Santana, causing his throw to sail over first base to allow Arrendall to score.

Two more Greeneville runs crossed in the second on an RBI double by Ryan Humphrey — the only hit off Hobgood — and a sacrifice fly from Mojica.

Greeneville out-hit Bluefield 10-8, led by Mier, Houston’s first round pick in June’s draft, who had two hits. Humphrey added two doubles and Mojica contributed a double and single.

Bluefield, which will host Danville tonight at 7 p.m., was paced by Santana with three hits, including a triple.

Omar Casamayor had two singles for the Orioles.

Bird seed: Josh Dowdy, who had three saves and two wins for Bluefield, was promoted earlier this week to Aberdeen, Bluefield’s Low Class A team in the New York-Penn League.

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com



At Bowen Field

Greeneville…………...........030 000 210 — 6 10 3

Bluefield……………...........021 010 000 — 4 8 2

Gabriel Garcia, Joan Belliard (5) and Carlos Mojica. Matt Hobgood, Jorge Almanzar (3), Brandon Holloway (7), David Walters (8) and Janensis Guerrero. W—Belliard (1-2); L—Holloway (2-2); S—Jeiler Castillo (2). HR—Mikey Planeta 1, 3rd, 0 on. Att—1,147.

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