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Charlotte Stone Crabs

Palm Beach Tops Stone Crabs

June 18, 2012 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE -- The Charlotte Stone Crabs made a late charge but came up short to the Palm Beach Cardinals in the opener of a three-game set on Monday at Charlotte Sports Park.

A perfectly executed ninth inning, safety squeeze by Starlin Rodriguez allowed the Cardinals to take back the lead for good. Palm Beach kept Charlotte off the board in the bottom of the ninth for a 5-4 victory.

Rehabbing Tampa Bay Rays reliever Kyle Farnsworth was dinged for a run in his only inning work. A wild pitch resulted in a dropped third strike against Rainel Rosario to spoil what could have been a quick and easy inning. Chris Edmondson followed with a trip to right center which put Palm Beach on top 1-0.

"Today is probably the best I've felt in all of the rehab appearances," said Farnsworth of his third appearance with Charlotte. "Just have to keep on going. I got my work in today, so I'm just going to throw a couple more and see what happens."

The Cardinals added two more in the second inning and another in the fifth to carry a 4-2 advantage into the late innings, when the Stone Crabs finally put together a much needed rally.

Returning to Charlotte after signing a free-agent contract with the Rays on Friday, center fielder Chris Murrill lined a run-scoring single that plated the first of two eighth inning runs. Hector Guevara added a sacrifice fly that tied things up, 4-4.

Murrill finished 2-for-4 in his first game back. He lined a pair of singles to extend a hitting streak that began last season. His last hit came on May 26, 2011 against the Tampa Yankees, but Murrill is now riding a five-game streak. The speedy outfielder underwent season-ending shoulder surgery that sidelined him for the second half of last year.

Speaking of hitting streaks, An 0-for-3 showing snapped Guevara's 12-game streak. It was the longest by a Charlotte player this season. Guevara did have a walk and an that RBI in the losing effort, however.

Phil Wunderlich continued his month long binge with three more hits and three more runs scored. The first baseman has 27 hits in his last 72 at-bats, good for a .375 clip since May 11. Wunderlich has scored 18 runs in those 22 games as well.

Palm Beach reliever Dean Kiekhefer (2-1) allowed two runs in the bottom of the eighth but finished the game with a scoreless ninth to earn the win.

Nate Garcia (0-3) was charged with the loss after Palm Beach used the bunt play to move ahead for good.

Only two games remain in the first half as the series continues on Tuesday. The Stone Crabs send Albert Suarez (4-3) to the hill against Cardinals lefty Anthony Ferrara (4-4). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from June 18, 2012


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