P-Rays Fall to Danville 5-3

The Princeton Rays were unable to complete the sweep as they fell to the Danville Braves 5-3 on Saturday night at Legion Field. The Rays got behind early and could not make a comeback as the offense was pretty much quiet throughout the game.

Danville scored first in the second inning. Evan Gattis reached on a single to left, then scored on a triple by Joseph Terdoslavich to take a 1-0 lead.

The Braves increased their lead in the third. Elmer Reyes double to left to lead off the inning. Jason Mowry followed with a single to center that moved both runners into scoring position. Reyes then scored on a bunt single by Jim Linger. Joe Leonard double home a run with a line drive to left to score Mowry. The final two runs of the inning came on a double by Jace Whitmer that scored Linger and Leonard to increase the lead to 5-0.

The Rays reached the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Bryan Fogle reached on an error to put a runner on base. Ruben Contreras followed with a single to center. Then Hector Guevara drove home two runs with a double to center, giving the Rays 2 runs as they now trailed 5-2.

The Rays added another run in the ninth. Alejandro Segovia singled to left then advanced to second on a ground ball by Jeff Malm. A wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position. Segovia scored on a balk to pull the Rays within two runs of the lead. But the they could not get another run as they lost 5-3.

Andrew Bellati suffered the loss, surrendering 5 runs on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts in 5 2/3 inning. Brad Furdal pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, no runs on 2 hits with a walk.

The Rays return home to Hunnicutt Field to kick off a series against the Bluefield Orioles. Braulio Lara (1-1, 3.48) will get the Independence Day start against Jarret Martin (0-2, 6.23) for Bluefield.