When the clock struck midnight, and Monday became Tuesday at Joe O’Brien Field, a rooster crowed loudly into the East Tennessee night. It was not a real bird, just a bit of fun concocted by the E-Twins promotion crew in the press box. It was a cheap laugh on a long night, but there was still baseball to be played.

The scheduled double-dip got started on time, but rain was threatening from the moment the first pitch flew until the final outs were played. A crowd liberally numbered at 507 souls was hearty; seeking shelter however they could through a first game that was delayed 93 minutes by rain. The home team lost, falling further back of first place in a doubleheader that could see them head home after the two contests in sole possession of first place.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh in the second contest, Elizabethton trailed Greeneville on the scoreboard 2-1. A pair of Astros southpaws, had kept the Twins at bay. Other than a lone run that tied the game in the fourth, no Twin runner had advanced past first base. For the seventh, the Astros would call on another left hander, one of six active left handers on the staff, a high number for this year’s Appalachian League.

Brian Olsen led off the inning with a walk on a full count. Kamran Young replaced him on first, as Manuel Guzman stepped up to the plate. It was no secret Guzman was going to bunt, but as he pulled back his first attempt, the ball bounced off the catcher’s thigh and toward the backstop. A passed ball allowed Young to advance the tying run into scoring position.

Guzman changed his approach. He battled his way to a walk, again on a full count. Two on, no outs. E-Twins skipper Ray Smith had sent Lewan Diaz, in just his second day in town, to the on-deck circle with the plan of having him hit after Guzman advanced the runner into scoring position. When Guzman reached, he let Nelson Molina hit in his assigned nine-spot. He laid down a great bunt to advance both men into scoring position.

The stage was set for Jermaine Palacios to play hero. Palacios was already 2-3 for the game. He has been a base hit machine since arriving into town, with a disposition to pull the ball to left from the right-handed batter’s box. He did, but the Astro third baseman was in position to make the grab, Young could not advance as Palacios was thrown out at first. Two down for Daniel Kihle.

Daniel Kihle has had an up and down year for the Betsy Boys this year. He is a hard-nosed player that has often been the fourth option in the outfield more times than not. But tonight he would have the chance to play hero.

Kihle turned on a pitch and hit the ball hard at third baseman Rodrigo Ayarza. With the ball rocketed toward the hot corner, Ayarza made the best attempt he could on the hot shot. As it passed underneath his glove and into left field the Twins had tied the affair as the throw came in from left.

Third base coach Jeff Reed waived Guzman around third with a head of steam. Catcher Kevin Martir blocked the plate as Guzman executed a feet-first slide. The throw was off target but Guzman had to reach for the plate through Martir’s block. He touched, He was safe, Twins win in walk-off fashion.

Tonight’s second game was the same kind of heroics that Amaurys Minier achieved on the first night of July with a walk-off home run in the 13th. Elizabethton gave the fans that remained something to cheer. They kept pace with Greeneville and with a Kingsport loss, moved into sole possession of second place in the West.

As for the first game, Elizabethton lost 5-3. The game was basically four innings of intense one run/tie baseball where hits were at a premium and each team had a run. Elizabethton ended up having to waste an Andro Cutura start because of the rain delay, he was back out on the mound to pitch the 5th when the rains came hard and heavy.

Andro gave up just two hits, and one run. The run will be one that will be talked about at the baseball grounds by the Watagua River for some time.

After two easy outs in the third, Andro gave up a walk to leadoff man Myles Straw. Daz Cameron, son of longtime major leaguer Mike Cameron, stepped up to the plate, with two outs and the runner at first.

Cameron hit the ball sharply toward right field but the ball was tailing foul. For the purposes of disclosure, I did not see the entire of the play. I was not in my normal seat. I was on the opposite side of the press box that has an obstructed view of right field toward the bullpen. The last thing I saw was Kamran Young nearly crossing the foul line into foul ground and I thought the ball was foul so I leaned back into my chair. Oh, but it was not. It was fair.

Cameron rounded second, and the ball had not come in yet. He rounded third and after the Twins realized what had happened fired the ball to A.J. Murray at the plate. He applied the tag, and Cameron was out. The inning was over, but the damage was done. Ray Smith fought for his side, but to no avail. Greeneville had the lead.

The game was tied when the rains came. Had the rain not arrived, I truly believe that I would be writing about the incredible pitching duel between Cutura and Greeneville starter Jose Hernandez. The rain changed the narrative. Elizabethton took a 3-1 lead after Kamran Young hit a two run bomb after Cristopher Santamaria issued a two out walk to Travis Blankenhorn on straight pitches.

C.K. Irby struggled in the sixth, and Greeneville drew even. Jose Abreu went out to pitch the seventh for Elizabethton and gave up the final margin. Elizabethton had pretty much no more available pitching, and gave the game two spot start to Nate Gercken.

Elizabethton pitching kept the club in the second game, but it became clear early that if the game went long, Betsy would have to test the relievers on the staff. Anthony Mciver made his second straight quality appearance going two innings with a walk the lone blemish on the scorecard.

There are many things that can be overanalyzed, and were disappointing on the night. But that would cast a shadow over Daniel Kihle’s moment. The moment when the dust settled and Manuel Guzman was declared safe. It would mute the moment when the first base dugout cleared and swamped Kihle.

The Twins were the club smiling when the long night was over. Greeneville would have to board the bus with hanging heads for the hour trip home. Elizabethton would be in bed before the bus pulled back into Pioneer Park.

Elizabethton will make the trip to Greeneville for the third game of the four game set tomorrow. They have the momentum in the series, and will try to give themselves another chance at first when the series returns home Wednesday.

I have reached the part of the season, where for the most part I am a serious observer rather than a broadcaster. Just four games remain on the Elizabethton Twins Radio Network slate, but because that schedule ends on the last day of the regular season I will be close to the club until the calendar turns to September.

I am happy to answer questions regarding the prospects on the club. I appreciate the views, and would enjoy any comments or concerns. So until tomorrow night in Greeneville, Tennessee, at the nicest park in the Appalachian League, Go Twins.