ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. -- Another night, another big inning surrendered by the Pulaski Mariners.

On Saturday night, the big number came early, as a Josmil Pinto grand slam in the bottom of the first capped a six-run inning and the Elizabethton Twins went on to beat the winless Pulaski Blue Jays 8-3 in an Appalachian League baseball game.

Leonardo Rodriguez was the Mariners pitcher to get rocked this time. In just 1²₃ innings of work, the right-hander surrendered four hits, six earned runs and also walked a batter.

The Mariners (0-5) cut the lead in half with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but then Elizabethton (5-0) added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The Mariners did show signs of some improvement on the mound and with the bats.

This was the first time that an opponent did not get at least 10 hits. The Twins managed just eight on Saturday -- and none in its final three at-bats. Also, Dwight Britton had a double and home run to lead Pulaski. Gabriel Noriega also homered for the Mariners.

Pulaski 001 110 000 -- 3 7 0

Elizabethton 600 020 00x -- 8 8 1

Rodriguez, de Haas (2), Ortiz (6) and Familia. Sanchez, Stillings (6), Carr (8) and Bullock (9). W -- Sanchez (1-0). L -- Rodriguez (0-1). HR -- P: Noriega (1), Britton (1). E: Pinto (1), Lara (1).