FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs, Blue Jays Split Doubleheader

Published on June 2, 2012 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE -- After a washout of the series opener on Friday, the Charlotte Stone Crabs and Dunedin Blue Jays split a twi-night doubleheader on Saturday at Charlotte Sports Park. Charlotte emerged victorious in Game 1, by a 6-0 score behind a complete game shut-out from Albert Suarez. Dunedin rallied late to come out on top 4-3 in the night cap.

Neither team had a hit in game one until the fourth inning, when Dunedin's Ryan Schimpf shot a single to left with one out in the inning.

Asher Wojciechowski (2-2) retired the first eight batters he faced before Kevin Kiermaier drew a five-pitch walk in the third, but Charlotte got to him for four runs in the fifth. With one down Alejandro Torres drove a double to the track in right-center. Following a fly-out and a walk, Hector Guevara lined a two-run triple into the right field corner to break the scoreless tie.

Major League rehabber Brandon Allen followed with a run-scoring single to center field, and Mikie Mahtook stroked a double to left-center to plate Allen with the Stone Crabs' fourth run.

Charlotte added two more in the sixth, capped by a Guevara RBI single up the middle. Guevara paced the Charlotte offense in game one with a 3-for-4, three RBI performance.

Albert Suarez (4-2) shut down a potent Blue Jay offense in a seven-inning complete game effort. Suarez faced just one above the minimum, and finished having allowed just two hits while striking out five. It was just the second complete game shutout in Stone Crabs history.

In the nightcap Victor Mateo got the ball for Charlotte, making his first start of the season. Dunedin grabbed the lead off Mateo in the third when Ryan Schimpf blasted a 3-1 offering that sailed over the right field wall for a three-run homer, his seventh of the season.

Mateo responded by striking out the next four batters he faced, but was lifted after allowing a two-out double to Kenen Bailli in the fourth. Mateo was charged with three runs on five hits in 3-2/3 innings and did not factor in the decision.

The Stone Crabs chipped away at the Jays' 3-0 lead with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Derek Dietrich, Riccio Torrez, and Steve Tinoco strung together consecutive singles with one down in fourth. Tinoco's liner to left plated Dietrich with Charlotte's first run.

The Stone Crabs again rallied with two down in the fifth. With Robi Estrada on second, Mahtook lined a base hit to center to cut the Blue Jays lead down to one. After Dietrich walked, Torrez singled to left to push across Mahtook, but Dietrich was gunned down at third by Bailli in right to end the inning with the score tied at three.

Jimmy Patterson (3-3) entered the game in relief of Mateo in the fourth, and held Dunedin scoreless until the seventh. Gabe Jacobo led off the inning by belting his third home run of the season out to center to push the Blue Jays out in front 4-3.

Charlotte would not go down easily in the bottom of the seventh.

With one away, Estrada stroked a double to right-center, and Kevin Kiermaier worked a seven-pitch walk to put the winning run aboard at first.

Facing the middle of the Stone Crabs order, Danny Barnes froze Mahtook on a 93-mph fastball over the outside corner before Dietrich went down swinging to end the ballgame. Barnes converted his 17th save of the season for Dunedin, making a winner of Dustin Antolin (5-1) in relief.

The Stone Crabs and Blue Jays will be back in action on Sunday as Braulio Lara (3-3) will take the hill for Charlotte. He will be opposed by John Stilson (1-0). Sunday will also be Splash Day at Charlotte Sports Park, with first pitch set for 5:30 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from June 2, 2012


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