FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Blue Jays Beat 'Crabs 5-3

Published on May 29, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (May 28, 2014) - For more than 11 innings against the Blue Jays, the Stone Crabs appeared lifeless, as if still shaken by Sunday's crushing loss in Bradenton. Trailing 2-0 in the third one night after dropping the opener 7-0, they finally got their first run of the series on Leonardo Reginatto's sacrifice fly. However, it wasn't enough, and the Blue Jays held off several late pushes on a night when Ben Zobrist donned a Stone Crabs uniform in a rehab start. In a 5-3 win, the Blue Jays soured the Rays' second baseman's return to the compound, and took control of the series at Charlotte Sports Park.

When you're 1-4, receiving any sort of luck is welcome and appreciated. Leonel Santiago was close when he left his last start in Lakeland last Thursday night, departing with a lead, only to watch the Tigers rally for a win against the bullpen. Facing the Blue Jays, he had two tough innings, starting in the second. A one out single by shortstop Emilio Guerrero and a two out double by Kellen Sweeney led to a two-run single by Dwight Smith for a 2-0 lead.

Reginatto's sacrifice fly in the third inning came with the bases loaded against Kendall Graveman following opposite field singles by Kes Carter and Tommy Coyle, and a Zobrist walk. With men at the corners and the tying run at third, Patrick Leonard grounded out to third off the sinker baller, and the Jays 2-1 lead remained. The home fourth ended in bizarre fashion with runners at first and second and one out for Marty Gantt. His popout in foul territory was caught by first baseman K.C. Hobson, who noticed Josh Sale well off of first, before throwing to Mooney covering at the bag to complete the double play.

Dunedin shook up Santiago in the fifth following a five pitch walk to center fielder Dalton Pompey with one out. Marcus Knecht's ridiculous series at the plate continued with an RBI double to straightaway center, and Pompey raced around for a 3-1 lead. With Santiago gone, Marcus Jensen came out from the bullpen and surrendered an RBI single to Hobson which made it 4-1. But he'd get the next two outs, and would only allow three more baserunners over his next three innings of work.

Sale drilled a 1-2 pitch from Graveman back into center field with runners at the corners and two outs in the sixth to get a run back and make it a 4-2 ballgame. With the tying runs at the corners, the Jays starter struck out Gantt to end the inning. Later in the bottom of the eighth, a leadoff single by Reginatto and a one out double by Tyler Goeddel down into right field corner put the tying runs in scoring position. But Justin O'Conner and Sale failed to get the ball out of the infield, and the two run deficit remained heading into the ninth.

Knecht's second RBI double off Ryan Garton in the ninth pushed the lead back to three with the Jays ahead 5-2. Danny Barnes, Dunedin's single-season saves leader with 34 back in 2012, needed just three outs for his first save this season. A strikeout of Gantt and a walk to Carter came before another strikeout of Coyle, which brought up Zobrist. His single into right brought up Reginatto, who blooped an RBI single into right to score Carter and make it a 5-3 game. With Leonard batting, Reginatto stole second to put the tying runs in scoring position for the second consecutive inning. A walk to Leonard loaded them up for Goeddel, but Barnes slammed the door with his third strikeout to end the game.

NOTES: The Stone Crabs (25-26) are back under .500 for the first time since May 17Reginatto had his second straight three-hit game in the seriesZobrist finished 1-for-4 with a walkKnecht is now 7-for-9 with 5 RBIs in the first two gamesJensen tossed 3.2 IP of scoreless reliefthe run charged to Garton in the ninth was unearned because of an error at shortstop by Reginatto to start the inning.

The series continues on Thursday night at 6:30 PM when former 1st round pick Blake Snell makes his Stone Crabs debut against the Blue Jays Taylor Cole (3-2, 2.58 ERA). It's Banker's Night on Thirsty Thursday, and fans can enjoy 12 oz domestic drafts for only $1. Domestic bottles can be purchased at just $2! All specials run until the end of the 5th inning and there are still great seats available, so visit www.stonecrabsbaseball.com or call 941-206-HITS (4487) to order your tickets now.

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Florida State League Stories from May 29, 2014


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