APPALACHIAN LEAGUE: Rays one-hit Sox

Princeton Rays pitchers Matthew Moore and Michael Jarman combined to pitch a one-hitter against the Bristol White Sox on Thursday night. The Rays won 2-1.

By: | TriCities.com
Published: August 15, 2008

BY SPENCER CAMPBELL

BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

On Tuesday, the Bristol White Sox one-hit the Elizabethton Twins en route to a 4-1 victory. Two nights later, they got a taste of their own medicine.

In the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday night, Matthew Moore and Michael Jarman combined to throw a seven-inning one-hitter, leading the Princeton Rays (19-31) past the BriSox 2-1 at DeVault Memorial Stadium.

“When I was in the side [session] today, throwing the pre-game bullpen, everything was working alright,” Moore said. “For me today it was just one of those days where everything started out good from the beginning and it was enough to hold them to one run.”

Princeton led of the first by scoring two runs on two infield singles, one seeing-eye grounder and an error. Bristol responded in the bottom of that inning when leadoff hitter Jordan Kendall walked and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice.

Bristol’s lone hit came in the bottom of the fifth. Attempting to sacrifice Jedon Matthews to second base, shortstop Juan Silverio poked a bunt up the first base line.

Moore fielded the ball cleanly and with no Ray covering first base, he raced Silverio to the bag. Silverio tried to slide around Moore’s glove and, according to the first base umpire, succeeded.

Moore disagreed, saying that he tagged Silverio on the back.

The controversy ended with Bristol (27-24) in a perfect situation to tie the game. Kenneth Gilbert sacrificed Matthews to third and Silverio to second, leaving the Sox with runners in scoring position and only one out.

But Moore bore down, striking out Buckridge and getting Jordan Kendall to softly ground out to shortstop.

“Anytime you get second and third and one out, you’re hoping to score at least one run,” Bristol manager Bobby Thigpen said. “We got guys trying to win the game instead of tie the game – over-swinging, swinging at balls out of the zone, balls in the dirt.”

Bristol starter Steven Upchurch rallied after the first, giving up only five hits in six innings of work.

scampbell@bristolnews.com (276) 645-2543