JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Bristol outlasted the Doughboys in a chaotic back-and-forth matchup, clinching a victory in sudden death after a 6-6 score and a flurry of late-inning momentum swings Sunday night.
Johnson City jumped ahead early after a weather delay, scoring twice in the first inning on RBI singles. Bristol answered in the third when newcomer Cooper Flemming launched a solo home run, then Olin Ward’s RBI single tied it up at two runs apiece.
In the fourth, Bristol moved in front after Jean Carlos Garcia-Chicano scored on a pickoff error, and Flemming added an RBI double to make it 4-2. But Johnson City fought back, drawing a flurry of walks in the fifth inning to push three runs across and reclaim a 5-4 lead.
The State Liners responded again in the sixth when Prince DeBoskie reached on an error and scored, then Cooper Flemming came home on another error to put Bristol back on top 6-5. Johnson City then tied it in the bottom of the seventh.
In sudden death, the Doughboys started with a runner on first. Bristol’s Max Owens came in clutch, collecting a strikeout for the first out. Catcher Hayden Blair then caught Kaufman stealing third, and Owens ended the game with a second strikeout to secure the nail-biting win.
Bristol improved to 11-10 on the season and starts its series vs. the Elizabethton River Riders on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
