Alexander and Gasper homer, Yankees down Royals

BURLINGTON, Nc – Evan Alexander led off the game with a homer, Alex Mejias pitched three scoreless innings in his Pulaski Yankees’ debut, and Austin Gardner recorded a six out save to lead the Pulaski Yankees to a 3-1 win over the Burlington Royals on Thursday night.

It only took three pitches into Thursday’s game for Pulaski to jump in front, 1-0. Evan Alexander turned around a 2-0 pitch and cleared the centerfield wall off Malcolm Van Buren. The Royals evened the game in the bottom half of the first inning, and scored their only run of the game virtue a wild pitch. With Rhett Aplin batting, a wild pitch by Pedro Espinola scored Jose Marquez.

Espinola departed after four innings allowing one run on three hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. Alex Mejias replaced Espinola and pitch three outstanding scoreless innings allowing no hits, one walk and one strikeout. Mejias became the pitcher of record on the strong side when Mickey Gasper continued his hot streak with a solo blast in the sixth inning. The long ball was Gasper’s fifth homer in his last seven games.

Pulaski added an insurance run in the seventh inning to make it a 3-1 game. Ezequiel Duran raced home and scored on a wild pitch with Everson Pereira at the plate to round out the scoring. Austin Gardner replaced Mejias on the mound, and Gardner retired all six batters he faced and struck out the side in the ninth inning to record the save.  

The Pulaski Yankees improve their record to 23-26 with the victory and are winners in five of their last six games. Both teams rematch tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Burlington.