Rays down on the farm August 31: Princeton set to start playoffs

I'll probably do a quick playoff preview for the affiliates soon.  Hopefully Princeton's run isn't already over by the time I do.

Charlotte's season will wrap up today with a doubleheader, and one of their probable pitchers is a name I did not expect to see.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (74-67- clinched division)

Durham was suspended because of a power issue.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (31-37- eliminated)

A ninth inning rally came up short in Montgomery's 4-3 loss to Jackson.  Prior to the ninth inning, the Biscuits had just three hits, and they doubled that when they were down to their last out.  With Richie Shaffer on second, Jeff Malm singled to break up the shutout.  After Hector Guevara singled to extend the game, Willie Argo doubled home a pair, but Leonardo Reginatto flew out to end the game.

Albert Suarez didn't walk anyone, but the Generals put pressure on all night.  Five of those came in the second inning when they scored two runs.  In the fifth, former first rounder D.J. Peterson hit a solo home run to extend the lead to 3-0.  Suarez finished with three runs allowed on 10 hits in five innings with four strikeouts and no walks.  The eventual winning run was scored against Santiago Garrido.

Class-A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (32-32- eliminated)

The resumption of Friday night's suspended game ended up ending a bit early due to rain, and Charlotte ended up losing 7-2.  Johnny Field's solo home run in the third inning gave the Stone Crabs a 1-0 lead, but in starting the resumption, Marcus Jensen gave it all back.  Bradenton pounded out six runs against Marcus Jensen in 2.2 innings, and they later added an insurance run against Jordan Harrison.  Jared Mortensen pitched two scoreless innings before the suspension.

After the Field homer, the only hit that came after that was a triple by Field.  Including the single by Tyler Goeddel Friday, Charlotte finished with three hits.  Tommy Coyle stole his 30th base.

The second game of the doubleheader was postponed.

Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods (29-37- eliminated)

Bowling Green was postponed.

Short-Season Hudson Valley Renegades (46-28- clinched division)

Hunter Wood was sharp, but he didn't get any support in Hudson Valley's 2-1 loss to Connecticut.  After allowing a double in both the first and second innings, Wood retired 12 straight before exiting and finishing with just two hits allowed in five scoreless innings with three strikeouts and no walks.  The Tigers scored a pair of two out runs against Trevor Dunlap the following inning.

The Renegades had two runners in scoring position with one out in the fourth, but they couldn't come through.  That was their best opportunity until the ninth when they actually got on the board.  Braxton Lee doubled with one out, and he scored on Casey Gillaspie's two out single.  Coty Blanchard followed him with a single to put the winning run on base, but Grant Kay struck out to end the game.  Hudson Valley's six hits belonged to the top five hitters in the lineup.

Rookie Princeton Rays (0-0)

Princeton was off.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL BOX SCORES

Star of the day- No one today.

Goat of the day- Jensen really hurt Charlotte's chance of winning.

Today's games (probables courtesy of milb.com)

Durham v. Norfolk 5:05 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream) DOUBLEHEADER
TBA v. TBA
Nate Karns (9-8, 4.80) v. TBA

After the completion of the suspended game, a nine inning game will be played

Montgomery v. Jackson 6:35 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Jim Patterson (4-0, 3.81) v. Stephen Landazuri (6-5, 3.94)

Charlotte @ Bradenton 10:30 AM (Radio stream) DOUBLEHEADER
Reinaldo Lopez (7-4, 3.39) v. Jason Creasy (8-9, 3.93)
Ryne Stanek* (1-1, 5.73) v. Chad Kuhl* (12-5, 3.47)

Both games will be seven innings

Bowling Green v. Fort Wayne 6:05 PM (Radio stream) DOUBLEHEADER
Chris Kirsch (9-7, 2.70) v. Kyle Lloyd (6-5, 3.66)
German Marquez (5-6, 3.23) v. Jeffery Enloe (5-6, 4.17)

Both games will be seven innings

Hudson Valley @ Aberdeen 5:35 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Oscar Armenta* (4-2, 3.45) v. TBA

Princeton @ Danville 4 PM (Radio stream)
Brent Honeywell (2-1, 1.07) v. Alec Grosser* (4-3, 3.68)

Game one of a best of three series (tied 0-0)

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Norfolk Tides (Baltimore)
63-78 (3rd in IL South)
Offense: 622 R (7th) .705 OPS (11th)
Pitching: 4.43 ERA (11th) 1.40 WHIP (9th)
Top 30 Prospects: DH Henry Urrutia (7), RHP Mike Wright (8), OF Dariel Alvarez (15), 1B Christian Walker (18), LHP Chris Jones (27), RHP Josh Stinson (28)

Jackson Generals (Seattle)
30-38 (5th in SL North)
Offense: 583 R (8th) .718 OPS (4th)
Pitching: 4.13 ERA (9th) 1.35 WHIP (6th)
Top 30 Prospects: 3B D.J. Peterson (2), RHP Victor Sanchez (7), C Tyler Marlette (8), 3B Patrick Kivlehan (12), LHP Tyler Pike (16), OF Jabari Blash (19)

Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh)
41-27 (1st in FSL South)
Offense: 554 R (8th) .674 OPS (9th)
Pitching: 3.28 ERA (2nd) 1.24 WHIP (2nd)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Tyler Glasnow (3), OF Barrett Barnes (13), C Jin-De Jhang (24)

Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego)
30-37 (T-5th in MWL East)
Offense: 674 R (1st) .716 OPS (3rd)
Pitching: 4.84 ERA (16th) 1.48 WHIP (16th)
Top 30 Prospects: LHP Max Fried (3), RHP Ronald Herrera (17), Dustin Peterson (22), SS Trea Turner

Aberdeen IronBirds (Baltimore)
25-48 (4th in McNamara)
Offense: 234 R (14th) .614 OPS (14th)
Pitching: 3.80 ERA (11th) 1.34 WHIP (11th)
Top 30 Prospects: LHP Stephen Tarpley (21), C Jonah Heim (21), C Alex Murphy (31)

Danville Braves
0-0
Offense: 320 R (5th) .706 OPS (2nd)
Pitching: 3.39 ERA (3rd) 1.21 WHIP (2nd)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Carlos Salazar (17), C Tanner Murphy (21)