Twins fall to Princeton, 8-3
Published 6:00 am Thursday, July 25, 2019
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twins third baseman Seth Gray makes a throw across the diamond to retire a Princeton baserunner at first base.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton manager Ray Smith and the Twins infield await the arrival of relief pitcher Ryan Shreve from the bullpen.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton first baseman Trevor Jensen leads pitcher Tyler Benninghoff with a perfect under hand toss to retire a Princeton baserunner with base umpire Luis Avalos watching the play closely.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Starting Elizabethton pitcher Tyler Benninghoff sets to deliver a fast ball to the plate.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twins second baseman Anthony Prato cuts in front of shortstop Will Holland as Prato attempts to nab a runner at first base.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton Twin mascot Rookie shows his dance moves as he engages with a dance off with Northeast State's mascot.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton shortstop Will Holland gets ready to make a swing on a pitch from Princeton pitcher Christian Fernandez.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Elizabethton Twins (18-15) began this homestand the way they finished their road series, with a loss.
The Princeton Rays banged out 13 hits and earned an 8-3 victory on Tuesday at Northeast Community Credit Union ballpark.
Rays catcher Luis Leon came into the game with an Appalachian League-leading .380 batting average but was held to a 1-for-5 night by three Twins pitchers, but the rest of the Rays picked up the hitting slack.
The Rays (17-16) got on the board early on a single from right fielder Diego Infante which plated leadoff hitter Brett Wisely who singled.
Wisely moved into scoring position on a ground ball out to Twins pitcher Tyler Benninghoff.
In the fourth, the Rays pulled off a double steal to steal a run.
First baseman Jake Guenther singled with two out and Gionte Turner singled to second with Guenther advancing to third on an error by Twins second baseman Anthony Prato.
Turner took off for second and when catcher Kidany Salva threw to second Guenther came home on the play for a 2-0 Princeton lead. Guenther struck again in the sixth against reliever Ryan Shreve as he banged an RBI double to plate Nick Schnell who walked and was the last batter Benninghoff faced.
Turner then singled in his second run of the game plating Guenther for a 4-0 Princeton lead.
Meanwhile, Christian Fernandez was mowing down Twins hitters giving up just one hit – a single from left fielder Parker Phillips – through five innings of work. Fernandez struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Schnell opened the eighth for Princeton with a single and Guenther followed with his third hit of the game – this a two-run home run, his second of the season – for a 6-0 Rays lead.
Princeton wasn’t finished however as Turner walked and Kevin Melendez doubled him home with the help of the second throwing error of the night from Prato as the Rays took a 7-0 lead.
The Rays added a run in the ninth on an infield hit from Jelfry Marte and the only hit of the game from Leon which put Marte at third and he scored on a ground ball.
Shreve went 2.1 innings giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Phillips got his first Appy League home run in the last of the ninth with Gray aboard to make it an 8-2 game and Max Smith followed with his third homer of the season for the final tally.
—
Princeton 8-3
Princeton 100 102 031 – 8 13 0
E-Twins 000 000 003 – 3 4 2
W – Fernandez (1-2).
L – Benninghoff (2-2).
