PRINCETON —
Despite a less-than-ideal week, Princeton moved a game closer to Danville in the pursuit of an Appalachian League playoff spot.
The Rays (17-17) trail the Braves (18-14) by two games, but are seven games back of Burlington (22-8) who leads the Appy League East Division.
Princeton has a chance to make up some ground this week when they travel to Burlington on Sunday for a three-game set. The Rays will play the Royals and Danville three more times in August.
Princeton's Tuesday contest with Johnson City was postponed until Aug. 17. All Appy League teams had an off day Wednesday.
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Bluefield 2, Rays 0
Mother Nature had already rained out July 19’s contest then succeeded in disrupting the July 20 Mercer Cup competition. With Bluefield leading Princeton 2-0 after the top of the ninth, rain pounded down on Hunnicutt Field, and the game was called early.
Jeremy Gabryszwski and Griffin Murphy combined for a five-hit shutout. Jacob Faria took the loss for the Rays. He allowed one run in his one-inning of action.
The Blue Jays scored in the first off a wild pitch by Faria then added another in the ninth when Oscar Hernandez's pick-off attempt was off the mark.
Jacob Anderson went 3-for-3 for Bluefield. Dwight Smith added two hits.
Brandon Martin, William Argo, Andrew Toles, Omar Narvaez and James Harris each had a hit for the P-Rays.
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Rays 4, Bluefield 2
Bluefield's pitching continued to baffle Princeton's hitter before the Rays finally ended their scoreless streak in the second game of their Mercer Cup doubleheader.
The Blue Jays blanked Princeton in the first game before the Rays rebounded for a win in the nightcap to split Saturday's doubleheader at Bowen Field. Both games were seven-innings.
In the opener, Tucker Jensen and Blake Snell had a pitcher's duel. Snell went five scoreless innings for Princeton while Jensen went six scoreless for Bluefield. Snell struck out six and allowed three hits. Jensen struck out five, had a walk and gave up a hit.
The difference came in the bullpens where Jonathan Weaver served up a solo home run from Jacob Anderson and a RBI by Santiago Nessy in the sixth. Brandon Dorsett notched a save with a scoreless seventh.
Andrew Toles had the Rays’ only hit.
Toles ended the scoring drought for Princeton when he touched home in the first inning of the second game. The Rays added two more in the third and another in the sixth.
Brandon Martin hit a solo shot in the third and Argo went deep in the sixth. Argo finished with three RBIs.
Anderson and Art Charles had a RBI apiece for Bluefield.
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Rays 13, Johnson City 3
With their scoreless streak behind them, Princeton's bats went to work against Johnson City. The Rays scored 13 runs and pounded out 16 hits as they defeated the Cardinals Sunday at Hunnicutt Field.
Princeton scored three runs in the first, second and eighth innings.
Andrew Toles hit a grand slam in the second for his first home run of the year. Julian Morillo added a two-run shot in the eighth. Reid Redman added three RBIs while Ariel Soriano had two RBIs.
Hugo Duarte picked up the win in relief. Princeton starter Alex Keudell went three scoreless innings. Johnson City's starting pitcher Cory Jones lasted one plus inning and was charged with eight runs.
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Johnson City 9, Rays 8
Princeton's offense had no trouble putting runs on the board. The only problem was either did Johnson City. The Cardinals scored three runs in the eighth to tie the game before edging the Rays in 11 innings on Monday at Hunnicutt Field.
All three Princeton pitchers were charged with runs in the loss. Starter Eli Echarry gave up five runs in four innings. Daniel Bream came on in relief and was charged with three runs in three frames. Jonathan Weaver took the loss with one unearned run in four innings.
John Alexander paced the Rays' bats with a three-run home run in the fourth. Reid Redman and Andrew Toles each had two RBIs.
Johnson City's starting pitcher Juan Bautista lasted three and two-thirds while giving up seven runs (five earned).
Nine different Cardinals had a hit.
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