Cardinals rally past Bluefield

Local Sports

July 31, 2009

Staff report

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Robert Stock’s two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning led the Johnson City Cardinals to a 7-5 Appalachian League win over the Bluefield Orioles on Friday night at Howard Johnson Field.

Bluefield (18-19), which dropped into a third place tie with Pulaski in the East Division, led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but the Cardinals scored three to tie, and two more in the ninth to win.

Stock also played a role in the seventh inning rally, bringing home a run with a triple, and Edgar Lara tied with a two-run double.

Bluefield, which lost for the fourth straight game, had eight hits, scoring three runs in the third, and two in the eighth to tie the score at 5-5.

Jose Kianes and Dashenko Ricardo had two hits each for Bluefield, with Kianes collecting his third home run of the season, along with a double and two runs batted in. Ricardo had a triple, while Mike Flacco drove in two in the third with a double.

Stock, Robert Racobaldo and Michael Swinson had two hits each for Johnson City, which out-hit the Orioles 11-8.

David Kington (2-1) earned the win in relief, while Ryan Palsha (0-1) took the loss. Bluefield’s Jesse Beal pitched well for six innings, allowing six hits and two runs.

Johnson City (18-15) will host Bluefield tonight and Sunday, with both games starting at 6 p.m.