FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Carter Powers Stone Crabs Comeback

Published on April 15, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (April 15, 2014) - The ball sailed deep into the cool, night air as quickly as it left Kes Carter's bat. For the third time in two games, the once power depleted Stone Crabs relied on the longball to battle back from two separate two run deficits and defeat the Miracle 6-4 in front of 2,099 on Tuesday night. Carter's four runs batted in gave him 10 to put him amongst the Florida State League leaders, and the Miracle's dominant four game winning streak over the Stone Crabs to open the season was no more.

Charlotte had gone nine days in between Patrick Leonard home runs when the first baseman launched his second solo shot of the year to tie the score at two in the bottom of the sixth. The offense had finally caught up to lefthander Jason Wheeler, who allowed his first run in the fifth while protecting a 2-0 lead on an RBI single by Carter. Following another single by Jake DePew and a one out walk to Tyler Goeddel, Leonardo Reginatto ended the inning with the bases loaded by grounding into a double play that was started and finished by second baseman Levi Michael.

The perennial Stone Crabs killer opened the third inning off Roberto Gomez with a single, his eighth base hit in 17 at bats against Charlotte. With the game still scoreless, Gomez walked Jorge Polanco on four straight before striking out Dalton Hicks for the first out. Adam Brett Walker rebounded from his hitless Monday night with an RBI single to give the Miracle a 1-0 lead. Mike Gonzales made it 2-0 with an RBI groundout that scored Polanco with runners at the corners.

Gomez came through with his second straight six-inning performance in less than a week against the vaunted Miracle offense, and handed the ball to Marcus Jensen with the score tied at two in the seventh. After both sides were retired in order, Jensen labored through the eighth inning and struggled to find the strike zone as Hicks opened the frame with a single. Walker's grounder to second was fielded by Reginatto, but his errant flip to Hector Guevara at second pulled him off the bag. Another single by Gonzales loaded the bases for Stuart Turner, who rolled a slow grounder to third for Tyler Goeddel, who threw home for the force out. Yet despite working ahead of the next two hitters, Jensen (2-0) allowed an RBI single to Max Kepler and a sacrifice fly by Travis Harrison. Fort Myers had regained a two run lead at 4-2 going into the bottom of the eighth.

Charlotte's second comeback started with a leadoff single by Reginatto, who was forced out on a Leonard groundout to third. With two outs, Guevara delivered a single, and Gantt's bloop into center field scored Leonard to make it 4-3. Carter then provided the late heroics with the three run shot to deep right, giving Parker Markel more than enough wiggle room for his first save in the ninth.

NOTES: The Stone Crabs have now hit three home runs in the first two games of the series after hitting just one in the first 10in their second come from behind victory, Charlotte improved to 3-0 when leading after the eighthCarter now has 10 RBIs over his last six games, which started on April 9 in Fort MyersGomez is the only starter to throw six innings in a game this seasonMarkel earned the save with a

1-2-3 ninth, after getting Polanco to ground into a 4-6-3 double play following a leadoff single by MichaelMichael is 7-for-12 with three runs scored in the seriesafter Wednesday morning's game, the teams won't meet again until June 10 at Hammond Stadium.

The South Division rivals meet for the deciding game of the series on Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM. Reinaldo Lopez (1-1, 10.57 ERA) takes on Miracle righthander Tyler Duffey (2-0, 2.25 ERA) as the Stone Crabs look to finish 4-2 on the homestand. It's Senior Citizen Day at Charlotte Sports Park, and Wednesdays mean all Kayem hot dogs cost just $1 at the concession stands! Get your tickets now by visiting www.stonecrabsbaseball.com or calling 941-206-HITS (4487)!

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Florida State League Stories from April 15, 2014


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