P-Rays down Greenville

Tom Bone

PRINCETON — The Princeton Rays feasted with three runs in each of the first two innings Tuesday night, then withstood a famine in the batter’s box to earn a 6-3 win over the Greeneville Astros. 

Princeton got going early, after both Brian Bryles and Kyle Spraker were hit by pitches from Astros starter Jose Cisnero. A shot down the left-field line by Ryan Wiegand rolled to the wall for a double, plating both baserunners. Weigand then scored on a throwing error by Cisnero.

Tomas Francisco and Bryles drew walks early in the Princeton second inning. At that point, Astros manager Rodney Linares had seen enough and pulled Cisnero.

The starter had given up one hit, but had hit two batters and walked three, and uncorked two wild pitches. He had also labored through 52 pitches, with 29 outside the strike zone.

The Rays’ Ty Morrison was the first to face reliever Jelier Castillo, and on a full count Morrison drove a pitch over the right-field wall for a 6-0 lead. It was his first home run as a professional.

“It was a fastball in, on a 3-2 count,” Morrison said. “I was just trying to get my foot down and see the ball as long as I could. Luckily I was able to put a good swing on it.”

Wiegand followed with a double, which would be the Rays' last hit until a Ramon Novas double in the bottom of the eighth. Castillo struck out six Rays in 2 2/3 innings, and the Astros totaled 14 strikeouts on the night.

Rays manager Jared Sandberg said, “They brought in some different looks out of the bullpen and we just didn’t make the adjustment. We hit some balls hard, but that’s the way the game goes. We just want to keep adding on, and get quality at-bats.”

Rays starter Omar Bencomo, who took the win, went 5 2/3 innings and struck out seven batters.

Sandberg said, "He mixed his pitches well. He went after them and got strikes."

Tyler Oakes limited Greeneville to one hit in two innings of relief, and newcomer Alex Koronas struck out the side to end the game.

J.D. Martinez scored the Astros' first two runs after singling to start the fourth and doubling off the wall to begin the sixth. Aaron Bray got the game's final run off an RBI single by Jose Altuve in the sixth.

Nathan Metroka, who had been Greeneville's most productive batter, went 0-for-5 and saw his average drop from .346 to .290. He was robbed of an extra-base hit when Bryles sped to deep center-field, reached high and snagged his drive with the tip of his glove to end the Astros third inning.

Jonathan Meyer batted 3-for-4 with an RBI for Greeneville.

Today’s home finale with Greeneville begins at noon. The annual “Lunch with the P-Rays” game, offered in conjunction with Wal-Mart of Princeton, includes $1 admission with a business card. Gates open at 11a.m.

Trevor Shull gets the start for Princeton. Greeneville counters with Gabriel Garcia.

The Astros and Rays will not meet again until the final three days of the regular season.

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tbone@bdtonline.com