SKEELS STARS, CARDINALS LOOK TO WIN RUBBER MATCH THURSDAY

PRINCETON, W.V. - Kyle Skeels posted two hits, including a home run, scored twice and recorded two RBIs in the Cardinals' 6-5 loss at Hunnicutt Field Wednesday. Skeels has now reached base in each of his last eight appearances and has five multi-hit games in that span.
Johnson City leapt out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI single by Skeels and a sacrifice fly from Kevin Vargas. The Rays responded in the bottom of the second with two runs vs. Cardinal starter Luis Ortiz. Ortiz (0-1) lasted five innings, allowing three more runs in the fourth on his way to the loss.
Skeels went deep in the sixth with a solo home run over the left field wall. The blast was his second of the season and cut the Rays lead to 5-3.
Trailing 6-3 in the ninth, the Cardinals rallied furiously vs. Princeton relief men Ryan Allain and Mitchell Walters. Malcom Nunez doubled home Liam Sabino and Chandler Redmond, who walked to start the inning, to cut the Princeton lead to 6-5. The Cards left the bases loaded to end the game on a diving force play at first by Jake Guenther and a covering Walters.
Nunez, Skeels, Sabino and Trejyn Fletcher all finished with two hits for the Cardinals. Brayden Theriot (4-0) earned the win for Princeton after allowing one run in the fifth and sixth. Walters earned his first save of the season by stranding the bases loaded to end the game. Will Guay, who pitched at nearby Concord University, posted two scoreless relief frames. 
The Cardinals (22-18) will look to win the series vs. the Rays (19-21) Thursday at 6:30 p.m. RHP Julio Puello (2-2, 4.74 ERA) is expected to start for Johnson City vs. RHP Aldor Rodriguez (0-2, 4.15 ERA) for Princeton. 
The Cardinals return for a seven-game homestand starting Friday, August 2nd vs. Bluefield. The evening will feature a Steve Spurrier Bobblehead Giveaway to the first 750 fans through the gates. The full Cardinal schedule for this season and season ticket information can be found online at jccardinals.com, or by calling the Cardinals Ticket Office at 423-461-4866.
ABOUT THE JOHNSON CITY CARDINALS
The Johnson City Cardinals are the Rookie affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Members of the ten-team Appalachian League, Cardinals baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 50 years. To learn more about the Johnson City Cardinals, visit www.jccardinals.com.
[PHOTO STORY BY ROBERT KELL]