Shank leads Pulaski past Princeton, 2-1

The Pulaski Mariners (8-7) began a six-game road trip Sunday evening and snuck away from Hunnicutt Field with a narrow 2-1 victory over the Princeton Rays (4-11).

After pounding out 12 hits against Danville Saturday in a 5-1 victory, the offense sputtered through the first five innings against Princeton right-hander German Marquez. The 18-year old Venezuelan allowed just two hits in five shutout innings. He didn't walk a single batter and struck out seven.

M's starter Edwin Diaz entered the game with a 1-0 record and an ERA of 0.00. The right-hander saw his scoreless innings streak end at 19 when Rays outfield Bralin Jackson launched a solo home run to left-center. The fourth-inning leadoff home run gave Princeton a 1-0 lead.

Fortunately for Pulaski, Marquez was pulled after five innings. The Mariners got to the Rays' bullpen right away in the sixth. Gabe Franca laced a single into center field and moved to second on a Darren Fischer wild pitch. After a fly out, Zach Shank grounded a two-out RBI single past a diving Leo Correa at the third, scoring Franca from second, knotting the game at one.

Diaz (1-0, 0.41 ERA) pitched six efficient innings, but got himself into a jam in the sixth. Back-to-back bunt singles led off the inning, but Diaz got cleanup hitter Travis Flores to hit into a 6-4-3 twin killing to escape unscathed. The right-hander allowed seven hits and one run (earned). He struck out five and didn't walk a batter.

The teams traded zeros until the top of the ninth inning. Shank led off the frame and gave the Mariners the lead with a solo shot off the scoreboard in left. That was all reliever Gabe Saquilon needed.

Saquilon (1-1, 4.76 ERA) threw three scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one base runner on a two-out walk in the ninth. He retired Yoel Araujo on a deep flyout in right-center to end the game.

Shank (3-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) and Franca (2-for-3, 1 run scored) combined for five of the Mariners' six hits. The two middle infielders also turned two double plays, both on grounders from Princeton's Flores.

The Mariners flashed the leather all night long and executed a perfect relay in the second inning. Araujo drove one into the right-center gap, but was hosed at third base as Ray Michel fired the ball into Shank who threw a strike to Joe DeCarlo at third to catch the sliding Araujo.

Isaac Gil (1-1, 1.29 ERA) took the loss for the Rays who have now dropped four straight games.

Pulaski moves into a second place tie with the Burlington Royals in the Appy League East. Both teams sit 1.5 games back of Bluefield.

The game blew by in a quick two hours and five minutes in front of 509 fans at Hunnicutt Field.

Game two between Pulaski and Princeton will begin at 7:05 p.m. ET. Brazilian left-hander Luiz Gohara gets the nod for the Mariners. The 16-year old is still seeking his first professional baseball victory.

 

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