FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

'Cards Lift Brooms in Sweep

Published on June 21, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - When a single player on the opposing team contributes more than an entire offense, you know there's trouble. For the third straight game, the Stone Crabs fell flat against the Cardinals at Charlotte Sports Park. Charlie Tilson's two runs batted in stood up in a 2-1 Cardinals victory before 3,442, sending the `Crabs to their fifth straight defeat and dropping them to eight games below .500 for the first time all season.

In one of the premiere pitcher's duels of the season, Reinaldo Lopez stood tall against Cardinals All-Star Kyle Helisek. As the de facto ace of the staff, Lopez had surrendered just two measly singles and a walk in his first five innings of work. That all changed quickly when Tilson roped his third home run of the season on the first pitch of the sixth to break the scoreless tie and give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

Helisek, following in the footsteps of Silfredo Garcia and Joe Cuda, kept the Stone Crabs on their toes for his entire start. Perfect through three, the lefthander watched Leonardo Reginatto reach on a fielding error at second by Breyvic Valera to open the home fourth. Kes Carter, who bunted out to Helisek in the first inning, lifted another bunt attempt into the air for the pitcher to grab for the first out. Later on a 2-2 pitch, Patrick Leonard rolled into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to retire the side.

Still without a hit and trailing 1-0 after the Tilson home run in the sixth, Maxx Tissenbaum broke up Helisek's no-hitter with a solo shot of his own to right to tie the score. Helisek responded quickly by getting the next three outs before tossing a perfect seventh inning to close out his night despite leaving with a no decision. Lopez left with two outs in the seventh and Bruce Caldwell at second after a grounds rule double over the left field wall before Kevin Brandt got Jimmy Bosco to fly out to deep left for the final out.

Palm Beach got a leadoff single from shortstop Alex Mejia in the ninth before Caldwell sacrificed him to second. Brandt's intentional walk to Anthony Garcia and a single by Bosco loaded the bases, forcing Jared Sandberg to bring in Parker Markel from the bullpen to get the next two outs. A strikeout of Nick Martini on a close 3-2 pitch brought up Tilson, who sent a tricky grounder to the right side on a 2-0 offering. Second baseman Ariel Soriano fielded it cleanly, but his toss to Markel covering at first wasn't in time, and the infield single scored Mejia to break the 1-1 tie. Ildemaro Vargas then grounded out to send it to the bottom of the ninth, but the `Crabs didn't fare well against Cardinals closer Dixon Llorens. A one out single by Reginatto was the only hope to tie the score, but Llorens struck out the side for his second save in as many nights.

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Florida State League Stories from June 21, 2014


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