By JED LOCKETT
BLUEFIELD — A rain shower hit Bowen Field at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening. Unfortunately for the Greeneville Astros, the rain arrived a few minutes too late.
The Bluefield Orioles scored six runs in the first inning — five prior to a one hour and nine minute rain delay —en route to a win.
The Orioles got to Greeneville starter Kyle Greenwalt, who allowed six runs, five earned, on six hits in just a third of an inning.
Richard D’Oleo, Dustin Black, and Jacob Julius made sure Greenwalt dropped to 0-1, each knocking in a run during the outburst while the other three runs were brought in on wild pitches.
Henry Williamson threw 4 2/3 solid innings for the Baby Birds, giving up two earned runs on two hits. He struck out three and walked two to improve to 2-1 for the year.
Kraig Binick led Bluefield with a 4-for-4 performance that included three runs, two RBIs, and his fifth home run of the season — a two-run shot in the seventh inning lined over the left field fence.
D’Oleo was just as important to Bluefield’s offensive success. He went 2-for-5, but those hits came at key times. He drove in four runs and scored one of his own.
Greeneville’s Kyle Miller went 2-for-4 with a solo home run to left-center field in the ninth inning. He batted in two runs and scored one. Reinaldo Pestana went 1-for-4 for the Astros with an RBI.
After the mammoth first inning, the Orioles just had to hold on. Each team scored a run in the fourth inning. Pestana singled to score Andrew Launier for Greeneville and D’Oleo ground into a fielder’s choice that allowed Eric Perlozzo for Bluefield.
Greeneville added a run in the sixth inning when Miller singled to score Timothy Johnson.
The Orioles responded with three runs of their own. Matthew Tucker doubled to score Perlozzo and D’Oleo tripled to bring home Binick and D’Oleo. Tucker went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while Perlozzo finished the game 2-for-5 and scored three runs.
The Baby Birds added another run in the eighth inning. After Black doubled to reach base, Brendan Monaghan doubled to score him. Black went 2-for-5 with two runs and Monaghan went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Each team’s starter was taken out after the rain delay. Bluefield starter Stephen Procner only got to pitch the first inning. He was not scored upon, allowed one hit, stuck out one and walked one.
The Orioles (11-10) and the Astros (4-17) will play again tonight at Bowen Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
—Contact Jed Lockett
jlockett@bdtonlne.com
At Bowen Field
Greeneville..000 101 001 — 3 5 0
Bluefield......600 103 21x —13 18 0
Greenwalt, Cespedes (1), Urbina (6), Robinson (8) and Pestana. Stephen Procner, Williamson (2), Garcia (6) and Dustin Black. WP - Henry Williamson (2-1); LP - Kyle Greenwalt (0-1). S - Adofito Garcia (1). HR - GRE - Kyle Miller (2); BLU - Kraig Binick (5). Att. - 561.
