Osprey's Principe hits for the cycle

With his parents on hand at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field, Principe hit for the cycle Friday, powering the Missoula Osprey to a 12-3 triumph over the Ogden Raptors.

A 37th-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in June, Principe went a career-best 5-for-5. He slugged a three-run homer, his third, in the first inning, then singled in the third and tripled home two more runs in the fourth.

When the 21-year-old right fielder came to the plate in the fifth, he knew exactly what was standing between him and a historic achievement.

"A couple of guys on the team were messing around, saying, 'You need a double,'" he said.

After third baseman Justin Fuller dropped his foul pop, Principe laced a pitch from reliever Douglas Brooks to the gap in left-center field for his second double of the season.

"When I hit it, I knew I had it, so it was pretty special," he said.

Making the moment even more special was having his parents there to watch him for the first time as a professional. They made the trip from Toms River, N.J., arriving on Thursday night.

"It was unbelievable," Principe said. "I just looked up in the stands, saw my parents, saw the looks on their faces and how proud they were."

The Brookdale Community College product wasn't done. He capped his performance with another single in the seventh.

"I was swinging the bat well [earlier in the season], but I've been working with our hitting coach, Jerry Spitt, just trying to listen to what he's telling me, and tonight it carried over," Principe said.

Elijah Rumler fell a triple shy of the cycle and drove in two runs to help the Osprey (9-9) win their third straight. Jose Dijol also had two RBIs and Taylor Harbin had two hits and scored twice.

Missoula's Cristian Beltre (3-5) won his second straight start, limiting the Raptors (7-11) to three runs on six hits over six innings with three walks and two strikeouts.

Ogden starter Wilfredo Diaz (1-2) lasted 2 2/3 innings and was roughed up for five runs on five hits and three walks while fanning two.

Jovanny Rosario and Alex Garabedian cranked solo homers for the Raptors, who have dropped six straight.