FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Comeback Propels Crabs to 5-4 Victory

Published on April 3, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (April 3, 2014) - These were the moments Josh Sale missed. A year away from baseball is a long time away for any player, especially a 22-year-old former 1st round pick with a high ceiling and even higher expectations. But here he was in front of 3,563 at Charlotte Sports Park on Opening Day, keying the turnaround for his team on a night when they needed to battle back against Bradenton. After an RBI double in the fifth inning to get the Stone Crabs their first run, Sale delivered a game-tying two-run single in the sixth of what was ultimately a 5-4 victory. Charlotte's bullpen took care of the rest, and thus the new season is officially underway.

It did not start promisingly for the Stone Crabs after Jordan Steranka's bomb over the right centerfield wall broke a scoreless tie in the third to give Bradenton a 1-0 lead. The Marauders added two more in the top of the fifth with one out after Josh Bell made it 2-0 with an RBI single to right. With the shortstop Adam Frazier still lingering at third base, Stone Crabs catcher Justin O'Conner unloaded a pickoff attempt wide of the bag that rolled down the left field line to make it 3-0.

The game could have been completely different if not for a couple of baserunning gaffes by Charlotte in the early innings. A leadoff double in the first by Andrew Toles was quickly forgotten after he was picked off at third base on a great throw by Jin-De Jhang. Later in the home third, Tyler Goeddel got the inning started with a single and a stolen base. He then misread a ball in the dirt that was scooped up by Jhang, who threw him out to quiet the rally. After Sale trimmed the deficit to 3-2 with his double down the left field line, Tommy Coyle reached as the tying run with two outs in the sixth. After Leonardo Reginatto reached on a throwing error by third baseman Walker Gourley, the Stone Crabs got hung up between second and third for the final out.

With the score tied at four, the seventh inning presented opportunities for both teams after Bell ripped a single off reliever Marcus Jensen (1-0). He then started a perfectly executed 1-4-3 inning-ending double play off the bat of Jose Osuna. In the bottom of the inning, a pair of two out walks by Reginatto and Kes Carter set the stage for O'Conner, but he grounded out to retire the side.

Maxx Tissenabum was hitless in his first three at bats until his leadoff single started the Stone Crabs eighth. Patrick Leonard then rolled a weak grounder to the shortstop Frazier, who stumbled to retrieve the ball before throwing it away in an attempt to get the force out at second base. With runners at second and third and nobody out, Robbie Rowland unloaded a wild pitch past Jhang which allowed Tissenbaum to score the winning run and give the Stone Crabs the only lead they needed. Despite a leadoff infield single by Marauders center fielder Jeff Roy in the top of ninth, lefty Kevin Brandt retired the next three hitters in order to shut the door for his first career save.

Notes: RHP Roberto Gomez got the start for Charlotte and threw 5.0 IPhe was 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in three starts against the Marauders last seasonall 18 players who received an at bat in this game reached base safelyBrandt's first save came in his 33rd career game (including 13 starts) the victory gave first-year manager Jared Sandberg career win number 247the win also improves Charlotte's record on Opening Day to 4-3 (lost both games of a double-header to Palm Beach last season).

The series continues Friday night when the Stone Crabs host the Marauders for the second game of this four-game series. Reinaldo Lopez gets the start against Bradenton's Chad Kuhl. Great seats are still available for the game, and a fireworks show will immediately follow the final out at Charlotte Sports Park. To get your tickets now, visit www.stonecrabsbaseball.com, or call 941-206-HITS (4487).

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