Rays go from high to low

PRINCETON — Following their high last week after recapturing the Mercer Cup, Princeton has been on a low lately.

The Rays (28-26) moved within a half-game of the final Appalachian League East Division playoff spot last Wednesday, but are now three games behind Danville (29-21) after going 1-5 in their past six days.

Burlington (34-17) leads the East by 4.5 games over the Braves and 7.5 games over Princeton.

The Rays had a perfect chance to gain ground against the Royals, but have lost two straight to Burlington. The two teams were set to complete their series on Thursday.

Princeton travels to Johnson City Friday to kick-off a four-game set with the Cardinals. The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Friday. The Rays will be back home on Monday to host Danville for a three-game series.

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Bluefield 3, Rays 0

After reclaiming the Mercer Cup the night before, Princeton couldn’t close out a series sweep of the Blue Jays. Three Bluefield pitchers combined for a shutout as Bluefield blanked Princeton Thursday at Hunnicutt Field to close out their regular season series.

Tucker Jensen started and went six innings. Colby Broussard followed with two scoreless innings and Brandon Dorsett closed it out in the ninth.

Seth Conner provided all the offense Bluefield needed with a two-run home run in the sixth. Christian Lopes added a RBI in the sixth as well.

Princeton had six hits, but was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Brandon Martin had two hits.

Alex Keudell went six innings. He struck out nine, but allowed three runs. Randy Davis pitched three scoreless innings of relief.

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Greeneville 5, Rays 0

The hangover from Princeton’s Mercer Cup victory continued against Greeneville. The Astros limited the Rays to one hit as they shutout Princeton on Friday night at Hunnicutt Field.

Andrew Toles’ triple was the Rays only hit. Daniel Minor limited Princeton with an impressive seven shutout innings. He struck out 11 and walked one. Tanner Bushue pitched the final two innings.

Kevin Brandt had a solid out for the Rays. He went five innings and allowed one run, but took the loss. Christopher Kirsch was roughed up for four runs in 2 1/3 innings.

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Greeneville 6, Rays 5

After being shut out by Greeneville in their opener, Princeton’s bats woke up in their second game. The only problem for the Rays, their defense left them.

Princeton committed four errors in their loss to the Astros Saturday night at Hunnicutt Field.

Two errors were throwing and two were fielding and only one unearned run crossed the plate, but in the end that was the difference.

Omar Narvaez had three RBIs for the Rays. Brandon Martin added another RBI.

Ricky Gingras paced Greeneville with a two-run home run in the seventh.

Jacob Faria took the loss in relief. Zachary Dando earned the win for the Astros.

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Rays 1, Greeneville 0

A three-loss series was not about to turn into four on Sunday. Four Princeton pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout as the Rays edged Greeneville at Hunnicutt Field.

Omar Narvaez drove in William Argo in fourth for the game’s only run.

Bruedlin Suero went six innings for the win. Jonathan Weaver, Alex Keudell and Nick Sawyer pitched the final three innings.

Lance McCullers took the loss for the Astros.

John Alexander had two hits for the Rays. Narvaez, Ismel Antunez and Brand Martin each had a hit as well.

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Burlington 8, Rays 2

The Princeton Rays kept Burlington off the scoreboard for three innings to take an early lead. The Royals would fight back though with eight runs in the next five frames while limiting Princeton to one run as they defeated the Rays on Tuesday night.

Ariel Soriano and Oscar Hernandez each drove in a run for Princeton. Hernandez and Ismel Antunez had two hits a piece.

Eli Echarry was charged with four runs in five innings. He took the loss, but did strike out six and walked none.

Daniel Hernandez guided the Royals with six solid innings. He struck out six, walked one and allowed two runs.

Bubba Starling, Fred Ford and Mark Threlkeld each went deep for Burlington.

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Burlington 2, Rays 0

Neither the Princeton Rays nor Burlington Royals could figure out the opposing team’s pitching for much of the game. The two teams combined for six hits, but one left the park for the Royals and that was the difference.

Mark Threlkeld hit a solo home run in the sixth to help push the Royals past Princeton on Wednesday night. Kenneth Diekroeger added a RBI in the seventh to drive in Bubba Starling.

Kevin Brandt pitched five perfect innings for the Rays. He struck out eight and walked none. Alex Keudell took the loss in relief.

Reid Redman, William Argo and James Harris each had a hit for Princeton.

Burlington’s Patrick Conroy went seven shutout innings. He struck out four and walked two.

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Rays go from high to low

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