The 2009 home opener did not go as the Greeneville Astros had planned. Back to the drawing board today.

The Astros (2-2) were soundly beaten by the Danville Braves (4-0) by a score of 9-3 on Friday night at Pioneer Park. The attendance for the first home game of the season was 2,130 fans.

Greeneville fell behind early as the Braves worked over starting pitcher Gabriel Garcia for four runs in two and one-third innings. Danville never looked back.

Garcia took the loss while Matt Crim earned the win after coming on in relief.

The two squads square off tonight in game two of the three-game series. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

Right fielder Robert Hefflinger was the big stick for the Braves on Friday. He crushed two home runs in the contest. His first blast came at the start of the third inning. That homer was the start of a huge inning for Danville. The Braves batted around the lineup and plated four runs.

Besides Hefflinger's homer, the Braves collected two doubles and a single in the frame. Two Danville players were walked in the inning as well.

After the long inning, the Braves held a 6-0 lead and were well on their way to a victory.

The big inning was delayed just a bit by a call in the bottom of the second. Manager Rodney Linares argued a call after the two umpires conferred on a play. Carlos Mojica was struck by the ball while running to second. The umpire in the field did not signal an out. Danville protested and that caused the two umpires to talk.

After the conference, Mojica was ruled out and first baseman Aaron Bray was sent back to second. Bray reached base after a leadoff walk.

The ruling killed any momentum Greeneville was building.

Greeneville fought back in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, right fielder Nathan Metroka drew a walk. On the very next pitch, designated hitter Julio Martinez drove one out of the ballpark, his second round-tripper of the young season.

The two runs in the third would be the only scoring for the Astros until the bottom of the seventh when they tacked on one more run.

Danville added a run to the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning. Centerfielder L.V. Ware reached base on a bunt and then was brought home two batters later when left fielder Adam Milligan doubled to center.

The Astros manufactured their final run of the contest in the seventh. With one out, centerfielder Ryan Humphrey singled to right. He stole second base and then was driven home when second baseman Jose Altuve singled to center.

The final two runs for the visiting Braves came on a two-run homer off the bat of Hefflinger in the top of the eighth.

Greeneville was lucky to escape the eighth with only allowing two runs. Following the home run, Danville hit two straight singles to center. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Astros brought in Nathan Pettus. He got Ware to fly out to center to end the inning.

Even though the Braves scored nine runs, their total could have been much higher. Danville left 13 runners on base. Greeneville managed to strand seven base runners.

The Braves pounded out 14 hits compared to seven for the home team.

The eight pitchers used by both squads combined to strike out 18 batters. On the flip side though, there were nine walks issued. Greeneville pitchers hit three batters during the game.

The leading hitters for the Astros were Humphrey and Altuve with two hits each. Metroka, Martinez and catcher Carlos Mojica collected the other hits.

As a result of the hits, walks and runs, the contest nearly lasted three hours.