Rays Hold Off Yankees, Sweep Three-Game Set

PULASKI, Va - Luis Gil retired the first 10 batters of the night for the Pulaski Yankees, but the Princeton Rays held the Yanks' bats in check to sweep a three-game series on Monday night, 4-3.

Gil's counter partner, Wanderson Linares was sensational on the mound as well, and received the hard-earned win after five innings, allowing no runs, three hits, one walk and four strikeouts. The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the fifth frame on a RBI double to deep left by Jordyn Muffley that alluded left fielder Juan De Leon. Osmy Gregorio and Jose Torrealba raced home to make it 2-0 Rays.
 
Princeton's lead opened to 3-0 in the seventh inning on a Pedro Diaz single to center field on an 0-2 pitch. In the bottom half, the Yankees cracked the scoreboard to break a skid of one run in their previous 27 innings. After Max Burt walked, he went first to third on a single by Nelson Gomez. Next batter, Carlos Narvaez lifted a fly ball to left field that scored Burt and advanced Gomez to third. De Leon singled in Gomez and advanced to second base on the throw to cut the Pulaski deficit to one. With runners on second and third with one out, Jordan Scott and Robert Javier both struck out swinging to end the Yankees' threat.
 
In the eighth, Princeton regained a two-run advantage after Jordan Qsar went yard to deep right field for his eighth homer of the season. In the bottom half, the Yankees answered again after Oswald Peraza scored on a wild pitch from 90 feet away with Burt at the dish.
 
Into the ninth, Javier grounded into a game-ending double play to finalize a 4-3 final. The loss marks the Yankees' first time being swept since August 23-25 against the Danville Braves last season.
 
Following an Appalachian League off day, the Yankees return to action on July 18 for the start of a three-game set at the Braves. First pitch on the road is scheduled for 7 p.m.