FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Batts Leads Miracle to 5-1 Win

Published on August 16, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (August 16, 2015) - The Stone Crabs and Miracle both came into their series opener on Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park 10 games over .500. Both teams had won their last two games, and were ready for another matchup in a season series that's been both well played and low scoring. It's probably a good thing the 'Crabs did not see Mat Batts before today, because the lefthander carried the Miracle from start to finish. In the longest start of his career, last year's 17th round pick went eight innings while striking out nine as the Miracle made it three straight with a 5-1 win.

Hunter Wood was attempting to win for the first time since his debut start in Tampa nearly one month to the day. It was another afternoon where the righthander started slowly, and really only suffered from two rough patches that began in the second. Logan Wade reached on a leadoff double that hopped right over Pat Blair at first, and Wood's balk got the third baseman to third with just one out. Zack Granite's popout brought up number nine hitter Tanner Vavra, who snuck a single into center for his 14th run batted in and a 1-0 advantage. Engelb Vielma then came up and rolled an infield single to the shortstop hole, but Willy Adames' throw to second sailed down the right field line and two more runs came in to make it 3-0.

All of Batts' nine pitches in the third were strikes, and he finished the fourth with two more strikeouts for a total of seven. He was perfect in the fifth, and at that point, the Stone Crabs only base hits were infield singles from Braxton Lee in the third and Mike Marjama in the fourth. Wood returned for the fifth after retiring the previous seven hitters, but Vavra opened things up with a single into left. Vielma stayed perfect at 3-for-3 with a bunt single, and the next pitch to Jason Kanzler was skied off the base of the right field wall for a two run triple and a 5-0 Miracle lead. Wood (1-3) closed out his afternoon by striking out the side, but at that point, it was too little too late.

With a huge hill to climb, Marjama took Batts' second pitch of the seventh deep to left for his eighth home run to get Charlotte on the board at 5-1. However, the lefthander stopped any momentum by retiring the last six batters he faced. In a career high eight innings, he fanned nine for the second highest total in his 31st career start.

Jordan Harrison dealt two scoreless innings for the bullpen, and Josh Kimborowicz and Colton Reavis followed with scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth. Down to their last three outs, the 'Crabs got singles from Adames and Justin Williams off Todd Van Steensel. With the tying run in the on deck circle, Yoel Araujo grounded out to short to give the Miracle their fourth consecutive win against the Stone Crabs.

The series heads to Fort Myers on Monday night at 7:05 PM when Buddy Borden (8-6, 2.89 ERA) counters Stephen Gonsalves (5-1, 2.34 ERA). You can follow all the action by listening to the game on www.stonecrabsbaseball.com via TuneIn Radio, or tuning into 91.7 FM-WVIJ in the Port Charlotte area. The Stone Crabs Pregame Show starts at 6:45 PM on the Stone Crabs Radio Network!

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Florida State League Stories from August 16, 2015


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