Ray stellar for six, Harper homers

Strong performances from top prospects don't always equal victory.

Class A Hagerstown's Robbie Ray fanned a career-high nine over six one-hit innings and Bryce Harper homered in his return to the lineup, but the Suns still lost, 3-2, to the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Making his sixth professional start, Ray gave up Christian Yelich's leadoff single in the second and no other hits, though he didn't have his best control. The 19-year-old lefty retired 10 straight Grasshoppers before issuing his second walk in the sixth. Ray also hit a batter.

The Nationals' 2010 12th-round Draft pick lowered his ERA to 0.30. He has allowed two runs (one earned) -- both in a May 20 start at Greensboro -- through 30 innings this season.

Harper supplied half of the Suns' run production with his solo shot immediately after Ray's exit in the sixth. Harper, MLB.com's No. 3 prospect entering the season, also singled and struck out looking in four at-bats.

On the home run, Harper took his time getting to first base and appeared to blow a kiss at Greensboro pitcher Zachary Neal as he was jogging between third base and home plate. It appeared that the "kiss" was in response to Neal's reaction to Harper walking part of the way to first base before beginning his home run trot.

Harper, whose 14 longballs this season tied Augusta's Adam Duvall for tops in the South Atlantic League, left Sunday's game after being plunked in the lower leg.

Shane McCatty (0-1), who relieved Ray, gave up Wilfredo Gimenez's three-run dinger in the seventh. McCatty left without retiring a batter.