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Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs Strike Early to Earn Sweep of Tigers

May 4, 2017 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


LAKELAND, Fla. - The Charlotte Stone Crabs scored five times in the first two innings to earn a sweep of the Lakeland Flying Tigers, taking Thursday's finale 5-3 at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Thursday marks the first sweep of more than two games this year for Charlotte (13-14).

Against Lakeland (14-14) starter Spencer Turnbull, the Stone Crabs got back-to-back singles from Jake Cronenworth and Dalton Kelly in the top of the first. Second baseman Brandon Lowe then walked to load the bases with nobody out. The next two batters grounded out, plating a pair of runs in the process to give Charlotte a 2-0 lead.

Still up two in the second inning, David Rodriguez singled before Peter Maris stroked a double down the right field line. With runners at second and third and no outs, Manny Sanchez hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Rodriguez and make it 3-0. Cronenworth then grounded out to the right side to plate Maris and make it 4-0. With two outs, Kelly singled before Lowe pulled an RBI double into the right field corner to extend the Stone Crabs lead to 5-0.

That would be all the scoring the Stone Crabs' pitching staff needed. Starter Alexis Tapia struck out seven betters over four shutout innings in his High-A debut. The bullpen combination of Taylor Hawkins, Roel Ramirez, Greg Maisto and Brandon Lawson combined to hold the Flying Tigers to three runs over the last five innings, sealing the 5-3 win for Charlotte.

The Stone Crabs are now 9-3 on the road this season, as opposed to 4-11 at home.

Charlotte will open a three-game series in Tampa Friday at 7 p.m. Michael Velasquez (0-3, 5.60) gets the start against Josh Rogers (2-2, 2.16) of the Yankees. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.

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