JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — The Bristol State Liners dropped their eighth consecutive game Wednesday after falling to the Tri-State Coal Cats, 7-2, in the second game of a two-game series.
Tri-State wasted no time getting on the board. Bishop Quarles launched his second home run of the summer on the second pitch of the game to give the Coal Cats a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Quarles added his second RBI of the night in the second with a run-scoring single to extend the lead to 2-0.
Both pitchers settled in before Tri-State tacked on a third run in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk. A throwing error by Bristol in the seventh, following a single by Caesar Gonzalez, allowed another run to score, making it 5-0.
Bristol finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Patrick Gillen delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-2.
In the ninth, Michael Rodriguez hit his first home run of the Appalachian League season, a two-run shot that gave the Coal Cats a five-run cushion.
Despite the loss, Bristol’s pitching staff combined for 17 strikeouts. Starter Michael Fliss took the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits over five innings while striking out six. Reliever Matthew Bienvenu also struck out six in two innings. Beau Revord and David Hamilton added three and two strikeouts, respectively.
For Tri-State, Tucker DeLisle struck out six in 3 2/3 innings of scoreless work. Jet Hope earned the win in relief with 2 1/3 shutout innings and four strikeouts. Aiden Sites and Alberto Duran each struck out two out of the bullpen.
Tri-State (10-16) completed the sweep and remains in fourth place in the Appalachian League East. Bristol (11-18) sits in last place in the West Division.
The Coal Cats head to Pulaski for a two-game series before returning home to face Johnson City. The State Liners begin a four-game road trip in North Carolina with stops in Danville and Burlington.
