FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

'Crabs Fall in 11 to Finish 0-6 on Homestand

Published on June 24, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (June 24, 2014) - It was the perfect atmosphere for the Stone Crabs to start the long climb out of their funk on Tuesday morning at Charlotte Sports Park. On a hot, sunny day in front of a loud crowd of 2,385, the Miracle stole the fun with their first extra-inning victory of the season, completing the sweep with a 7-6 victory in the 11th. It marked the 12th time in the last 13 the `Crabs came up short, burying them a bit further thanks to an 0-6 start to the second half.

Patrick Leonard rang the bell when he banged a two-run homer just inside the left field foul pole off D.J. Baxendale to give Charlotte a 2-0 lead in the first. Tyler Goeddel led off with a single but was thrown out trying to steal second on a perfect throw from Stuart Turner. Baxendale then walked Tommy Coyle, but got Justin O'Conner and Maxx Tissenbaum to fly out to right after the home run.

A common theme during this current stretch has been the Stone Crabs inability to protect a lead. An infield single by Mike Gonzales and a double by Turner off Austin Pruitt to open the second set the stage for Max Kepler's game-tying two run single. With two outs, number nine hitter Aderling Mejia started a three-hit day with a run scoring single to plate up Kepler and give the Miracle a 3-2 lead. However, the Stone Crabs answered back in the second after Marty Gantt was hit with an 0-1 pitch and Ariel Soriano tied the score with an RBI double.

The Miracle went right back to it in the third when Lance Ray roped a double with one out. An RBI single by Turner broke the 3-3 tie before the catcher stole second, only to quickly score on a Dalton Hicks single to make it 5-3. Coyle led off the third with a hard triple down into the right field corner, and Leonard brought in his third run with a groundout to short to get the `Crabs back within a run at 5-4. In the home fifth, Tissenbaum tied it up with a double off Baxendale to right center scoring Coyle, who had opened the frame with an infield single.

Fort Myers resumed the scoring in the ninth against lefthander Jose Molina, the losing pitcher in the opening game of the series on Sunday night. Tyler Grimes led off with an infield single, and stole second for the first time all season ahead of O'Conner's throw. After a lengthy argument from Jared Sandberg, who contended that Mejia did not make an effort to step out of O'Conner's way on the throw, the catcher finally lost his cool. Before the next pitch was thrown, home plate umpire Brennan Miller ejected O'Conner from the game, forcing Luke Bailey to take over behind the plate. Mejia then delivered an RBI single to score Grimes and put the Miracle back in front 6-5.

Facing the dangerous Tyler Jones (1-1), the Stone Crabs got a one out single from Tissenbaum in the ninth. After a walk to Gantt, Soriano laced an 0-2 pitch down the left field line for a game-tying double to put the winning run at third base. Jones then fielded a grounder off the bat off Julian Ridings to send the game to extras. With Molina (3-5) still pitching, a double by Travis Harrison and a triple by Turner quickly gave the Miracle another lead at 7-6 in the 10th. Down to their final three outs for the second straight inning, a single by Coyle and a stolen base put the tying run at second with one out. However, Mason Meoltakis fanned Leonard and Bailey to strike out the side for his first save, sending the Stone Crabs to another heartbreak.

The Stone Crabs roadshow heads to Jupiter for six consecutive games at Roger Dean Stadium starting Wednesday night against the Cardinals at 6:35 PM. 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 6:15 PM on the Stone Crabs Radio Network!

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Florida State League Stories from June 24, 2014


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