Published: July 01, 2009 04:09 pm      

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Mier, Astros dampen Rays

PRINCETON — Giovanni Mier was a first round draft choice by the Houston Astros in June’s amateur draft.

He showed why on Wednesday.

Mier, the 21st overall selection from a California high school, collected three hits and one walk, drove in two runs, scored once and flashed the leather in leading Greeneville to a 5-3 Appalachian League win over the Princeton Rays during a rare noon game at Hunnicutt Field.

Princeton led early 3-0, but five errors and stranding 10 runners on base proved to be the downfall for the Rays.

“We’re trying to feel our way through this and see what everybody can do,” Princeton manager Jared Sandberg said. “It’s a learning process this first couple of weeks, but we’ve still got to go out there and compete and see what the players can do.”

For more on Wednesday’s game, see Thursday’s Daily Telegraph.