Johnson City 5, Kingsport 0
A rough night for the Kingsport Mets ended two outs early, thanks to Mother Nature. The Johnson City Cardinals hung the first shutout of the season on the K-Mets, tallying a 5-0 victory Friday in a game that was called with one out in the bottom of the ninth when a thunderstorm hit Hunter Wright Stadium and rendered the field unplayable for the remainder.
Stranded baserunners have told the tale for Kingsport en route to an 0-2 start in the Appalachian League. The K-Mets abandoned nine runners Friday, and hit 1-for-7 with men in scoring position. Kingsport is a combined 4-for-21 with runners in scoring position through two games.
In another developing common trend, the top of the second proved costly for the K-Mets. After plating five runs in that frame last night in a 9-3 victory, Johnson City pushed across four runs in the top of the second on Friday-all unearned. A two-out fielding error by Kingsport’s third baseman Pedro Perez loaded the bases. And Vaughn Bryan made the K-Mets pay, lining a triple into right field.
Bryan proved pivotal all night, tallying three hits, three RBIs, two stolen bases and a run scored while finishing a home run shy of the cycle.
Highly-touted teenage prospect Amed Rosario paced Kingsport offensively, with singles in his final two at-bats after going 0-for-5 in the season opener. All five of the K-Mets’ base hits were singles, while four of Johnson City’s eight knocks went for extra bases.
Kingsport will try to prevent the three-game sweep on Saturday, as it hosts Johnson City in the conclusion of this season-opening series. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., and there will be a fireworks show after the game.
Key Stats
Joe Tuschak: 1-for-3, 1 BB
Jeffrey Diehl: 1-for-3
Amed Rosario: 2-for-4
Robert Whalen: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 R, 0 ER, 6 K
Luis Rengel: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 ER, 2 K
Flabio Ortega: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K
(Team Report)