FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs win slugfest, take down Manatees 11-7 in opener

Published on May 21, 2012 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE -- The Charlotte Stone Crabs raced out to an 8-0 lead after two innings and held on for a 11-7 victory over Brevard County on Monday night at Charlotte Sports Park.

Charlotte sent eight men to the plate against Manatee starter Brooks Hall (0-2) in the first, on the way to a four-run inning.

Brett Nommensen worked a seven-pitch walk to lead things off, and after a wild pick-off attempt from Hall allowed Nommensen to take second, Brandon Allen drew a walk to set up runners at first and second with nobody out.

Mikie Mahtook followed and lifted a drive that just cleared the top of the wall in right-center for the first professional home run of his career, giving the Stone Crabs a quick 3-0 lead.

Derek Dietrich became the fourth straight Stone Crab to reach to start the game when he pulled a double to the warning track in right-center. Two outs later, Dietrich took off for third and scored when catcher Shawn Zarraga's throw sailed wide and into left field.

Hall's struggles continued in the second.

Cody Rogers launched his second home run of the season, a no-doubt shot out to right leading off the bottom of the second. After Nommensen flew out, Allen walked, and Mahtook singled, Dietrich drilled his fourth home run of the season to right, giving Charlotte an early 8-0 lead.

Hall, who entered the evening with just a 2.41 ERA, was lifted having allowed eight runs - seven earned - on five hits in just 1-1/3 innings of work. He walked four Stone Crabs, and three of the five hits he allowed were home runs.

Albert Suarez (3-2) set the first eleven batters he faced down in order before Cody Hawn worked a nine-pitch walk with two outs in the fourth.

Shawn Zarraga chopped the next pitch over the head of Allen at first for a double, the Manatees' first hit of the ballgame. Mike Walker quickly followed with a double of his own to right-center, plating Hawn and Zarraga to get Brevard County on the board and cut the Charlotte lead to 8-2.

Nick Shaw led off the sixth with his first home run of the season. One out later, Jim Morrison elected to lift Suarez in favor of Victor Mateo. The Manatees cut the Stone Crabs' lead in half when Zarraga drove his first home run of the year out to right, making it 8-4 Charlotte.

Suarez finished with 5-1/3 innings of work, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out four to earn his third consecutive victory.

The Stone Crabs added a run in the sixth on a RBI groundout by Mahtook, who finished the evening with four RBI.

Trailing 9-4, Brevard County climbed right back into the ballgame in the seventh with three runs off Mateo.

Charlotte added some crucial insurance in the eighth when Dietrich drilled a ground-rule double to center to drive home two. He finished the evening with five RBI.

The Manatees brought the tying run to the plate when they loaded the bases with none out in the ninth, but Chris Rearick struck out Shaw, T.J. Middelstaedt, and Hawn to keep Brevard County off the board and earn his ninth save.

The series continues on Tuesday when the Stone Crabs will send the lefty Braulio Lara to the hill against Taylor Jungmann. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from May 21, 2012


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