Cardinals Split Doubleheader With Princeton; Series Tied at 2-2

PRINCETON, WV - After splitting the first doubleheader with Princeton yesterday, the Cardinals looked to take advantage of the fact that they were the only team in the Appalachian League playing a doubleheader.   With a sweep, they could make up ground in the chase for the playoffs. However, the Cardinals and Rays would split the doubleheader again to keep the series even at 2-2.
Game one got off to a hurry for the Cardinals as they drew first blood scoring one in the top of the first. With one out, JonatanMachado reached on a fielding error. DarielGomez then hit a double (5) to score Machado and give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
KyleLeahy started the game for the Cardinals. Leahy went 5.1 innings, surrendered 10 hits, three earned runs, one walk, and notched three strikeouts en route to his third win of the season.
The Cardinals scored two in the top of the second to make it 3-0. MoisesCastillo led off with a single and reached second on a ZachJackson groundout. Castillo reached third on a SanelRosendo groundout. LiamSabino then launched a two-run homerun (1) to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. The Rays answered with two in the bottom of the second to close the gap 3-2.
In the top of the third, Johnson City put one on the board. With two outs, MoisesCastillo doubled (4) and ZachJackson walked to put runners on first and second. SanelRosendo singled and Castillo scored from second to make it 4-2. The Rays answered in the bottom of the fourth with one to make it 4-3.
In the top of the sixth, the Cardinals put two on the scoreboard. With two outs, LuisFlores singled and JonatanMachado singled to put runners on first and second. LeandroCedeno doubled (9) and both Flores and Machado scored to make the score 6-3. The Rays scored one in the bottom of the sixth, and the scoring would stop with the Cardinals winning game one, 6-4.
The Cardinals used one reliever after KyleLeahy. EvanSisk was brought on to close out the final two innings of the game. Sisk pitched 1.2 innings, allowing only one hit, and notched two strikeouts.
Game two started 30 minutes after and the Cardinals were set to sweep the doubleheader. The Rays exploded in the bottom of the first with five runs. They put nine unanswered runs on the board until the top of the sixth when Johnson City scored one. JonatanMachado led off with a single and LeandroCedeno followed up with a single that allowed Machado to go to third. With two outs, MoisesCastillo reached on a throwing error and Machado scored to give the Cardinals their only run. Princeton put three on the board in the bottom of the sixth and went on to win 12-1.
MichaelBrettell got the start in game two for Johnson City, his second of the season. Brettell went one inning, gave up four hits, five earned runs, and walked two. He took his third loss of the season.
The Cardinals used two relievers after MichaelBrettell. JuanAlvarez was first out of the bullpen. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing four, four earned runs, one walk, and tallied two strikeouts. OneiverDiaz was the last reliever used. Diaz pitched 1.1 innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, and one walk.
The Cardinals finish up their series with Princeton tomorrow with one game. First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET. The Cardinals will start a series with Elizabethton on Sunday with a doubleheader, first pitch on Sunday is slated for 6:00 p.m. ET.
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