Yankees held to two hits in series-opening loss to Reds

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Pulaski Yankees dropped a close contest to open the series against the Greeneville Reds Friday night in a low-scoring 3-2 affair. After the Yankees tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth inning, a late error would allow the Reds to score the winning run and take the first of three games.

Reds’ starter Josiah Gray – a competitive balance selection of the Cincinnati Reds in this year’s MLB First-Year Player Draft – went six innings allowing just two hits and holding the Yankees scoreless. Pulaski’s only two hits of the night came via back-to-back singles from Carlos Tatis and Carlos Narvaez in the top of the second, an inning in which the Yankees loaded the bases but failed to capitalize.

After three and a half scoreless innings, Greeneville’s Rylan Thomas opened the scoring with a solo home run to left center field. The Reds added another run later in the inning by way of an RBI double from Miguel Hernandez to score Brian Rey and make it 2-0.

Pulaski tied the game in the top of the eighth after Mickey Gasper and Juan De Leon reached to start the frame via a walk and hit by pitch, respectively. After a Max Burt walk, Gasper came home to score on a wild pitch before De Leon scored on a groundout from Ezequiel Duran.

The tie would be short-lived, however, as Greeneville scored on an error in the bottom half of the inning to re-take the lead 3-2 and use a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth to secure the victory.

The two teams will meet in the middle game of the series Saturday night at Pioneer Park as the Yankees look to even the weekend set at one game a piece. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm with Yank’s RHP Luis Gil set to match up against Reds’ RHP Miguel Medrano.