Rays down on the farm September 1: Princeton sloppy in game one loss

Brent Honeywell's postseason ERA remains 0.00, but Princeton has to tighten up their defense if they want to extend the series to a decisive game three.  Five errors aren't particularly helpful.

A day after Charlotte wrapped up their season, Montgomery and Bowling Green will play their last games today.  Durham and Hudson Valley will join the Princeton Rays in the postseason.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (74-69- clinched division)

Norfolk gradually built up a lead against Matt Andriese in Durham's game one 4-3 loss to the Tides.  Andriese allowed individual runs in four different innings as they built up a 4-1 lead.  He finished with those runs allowed on nine hits and a walk in six innings with two strikeouts.  Mikie Mahtook and Nick Franklin had two hit games, and Franklin drove in two runs.

Nate Karns was roughed up again and couldn't hold a 5-2 lead in Durham's game two 9-6 loss.  The Tides scored their runs in chunks with a pair of two run innings followed by a four run fifth that gave them the lead for good.  Karns would be charged with eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits and two walks in 4.2 innings with three strikeouts.  Hak-Ju Lee and Jeremy Moore hit home runs, and Justin Christian and Vince Belnome had three hit games.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (31-38- eliminated)

Two home runs weren't enough in Montgomery's 7-6 loss to Jackson.  Solo shots by Ryan Brett and Richie Shaffer in the first inning tied the game at two, and they would both contribute again in a three run fourth that allowed them to take a 5-4 lead.  A Cameron Seitzer sac fly in the fifth extended the lead, but the offense couldn't take advantage of any further opportunities.  Brett, Shaffer and Jake Hager had two hit games.

Making his second spot start, Jim Patterson struggled.  He managed to hang in there for five innings, but he allowed four runs on seven hits (including two home runs) and a walk in five innings with two strikeouts.  Matt Lollis lost the 6-4 lead by allowing two runs in two innings, and Parker Markel would take the loss allowing an unearned run that put the Generals ahead.

Class-A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (63-70- eliminated)

Charlotte's offense could only manage three hits in a game one 3-2 loss to Bradenton.  Granden Goetzman led off the second inning with a single and eventually scored on a Tommy Coyle sac fly to tie the game at one, and Johnny Field's double in the sixth eventually led to their second run.  Field had two of the hits.  Ryne Stanek allowed a run on a hit and a walk in two innings with a strikeout, and Austin Pruitt would be charged with the loss after allowing two runs in relief.

They didn't do much better in their game two 4-1 loss.  The Stone Crabs actually had a 1-0 lead thanks to Patrick Leonard's run scoring double play, but a three run fourth against Bradenton that included three doubles put the Marauders up for good.  Lopez allowed three runs on seven hits in four innings with two strikeouts and no walks.  Tyler Goeddel had two hits.

Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods (29-39- eliminated)

A Julian Ridings solo home run wasn't enough in Bowling Green's game one 3-1 loss to Fort Wayne.  The TinCaps scored all three runs against Chris Kirsch in the fourth inning with a two out bases clearing double.  Kirsch was promptly removed with three runs charged against him on five hits and five walks in 3.2 innings with one strikeout.  That's his fourth career five walk game.  Elias Torres had two hits.

One run still wasn't enough in their game two 3-1 loss.  This time, they never led though.  German Marquez allowed a pair of runs in the second inning, and he went on to have a decent start, allowing just those runs on four hits and a walk in six innings with four strikeouts.  Armando Araiza's one out single in the seventh finally got them on the board, but they couldn't push the tying run across.  Alexander Simon had two hits.

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

Hudson Valley was suspended, and they're uncertain if they'll continue this game today.

Rookie Princeton Rays (0-1)

Four unearned runs in the first inning sunk Princeton in their game one 4-3 loss to Danville.  Their second error of the inning with two outs put Danville up 1-0, and Tanner Murphy followed that up with a three run home run.  Brent Honeywell ended up taking the loss, but he was good, allowing no earned runs on three hits and a walk in four innings with six strikeouts.  Greg Maisto didn't allow any hits or runs in four innings.

It only took three batters in the third inning for the Rays to pull within two runs.  Thomas Milone followed up Riley Unroe's leadoff single with a triple, and he scored himself on Hec Montes' sac fly.  Other than that, their offense really didn't do much until the eighth.  Nic Wilson hit a solo home run, and they had two runners on base with one out after that, but they couldn't come through and tie the game.

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Star of the day- L L L L L L L L

Goat of the day- Princeton's defense cost them a chance to go up 1-0 in a short series.

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

Durham v. Norfolk 1:05 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Doug Mathis (2-3, 3.66) v. TBA

Montgomery v. Jackson 1:05 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Victor Mateo (12-10, 3.72) v. Victor Sanchez (7-6, 3.99)

Charlotte's season is over

Bowling Green v. Fort Wayne 1:05 PM (Radio stream)
Ben Griset* (2-8, 4.14) v. TBA

Hudson Valley @ Aberdeen 5:35 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Chris Pike* (4-1, 2.72) v. TBA

Princeton v. Danville 7:05 PM
Cameron Varga* (1-1, 4.74) v. Daniel Cordero* (4-3, 3.81)

Game two of a best of three series (Danville leads 1-0)

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Norfolk Tides (Baltimore)
65-78 (T-2nd in IL South)
Offense: 635 R (7th) .708 OPS (11th)
Pitching: 4.41 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)
31-38 (T-3rd in SL North)
Offense: 590 R (8th) .719 OPS (4th)
Pitching: 4.14 ERA (9th) 1.35 WHIP (5th)
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)

Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego)
32-37 (4th in MWL East)
Offense: 679 R (1st) .715 OPS (3rd)
Pitching: 4.60 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
1-0
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)