FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

'Crabs Stay Alive with 7-3 Win

Published on August 23, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - Needing a win to stay alive in the South Division playoff race, the Stone Crabs watched Fort Myers take a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth. However, the night quickly turned in their favor once the elder statesman David DeJesus powered a run scoring single into right field for the final run in a three run frame. Three more runs arrived in the fifth, and Jaime Schultz watched as the bullpen followed his longest start in a 7-3 win to split the first two games of the series.

After sitting out on Friday night, the dangerous Adam Brett Walker led off the top of the second with his first triple of the season. Schultz then fell behind on Max Kepler two balls and no strikes before the Berlin native struck a single to give the Miracle a 1-0 lead. Charlotte got the tying run to third in each of their next two trips at the plate, but Ethan Mildren got groundouts to end each threat.

Walker led the charge again with a one out single to left in the fourth. He moved to third on Kepler's double, scoring on a Tyler Grimes grounder that found Juniel Querecuto in the hole at short. Querecuto threw to third to try and nab Kepler who was on the move, but the throw wasn't in time, and the Miracle held a 2-0 lead.

Ariel Soriano dropped a bunt down for a base hit with one out in the home fourth. A Tommy Coyle single and Jonathan Quionez' second double got the Stone Crabs their first run and placed runners at second and third with only one out. Querecuto's ground out to second tied the score right before DeJesus pulled a single past the diving first baseman Dalton Hicks to make it 3-2.

In the fifth, Mildren's control eluded him as he walked Tyler Goeddel and plunked Johnny Field with one out. Soriano smoked a 3-1 fastball to left for a two run double that extended the lead to 5-2. Coyle came through with a double of his own for a 6-2 advantage on a night when he matched a season-high 13 game hitting streak. Schultz got two outs in the top of the sixth for the longest of his four starts. Jairo Rodriguez punched a single off Jordan Harrison that charged Schultz (2-0) with his third and final run.

Harrison retired the Miracle in order in the seventh and Field opened the home half with a single off B.J. Hermsen to reach a 10-game hitting streak. A 5-4-3 double play off the bat of Soriano did little to deter Coyle, whose third base hit and a stolen base allowed Quionez to bring in another run with his third base hit. The rest of the night belonged to Marcus Jensen and Zach Cooper, who threw scoreless innings and the eighth and ninth to keep the playoff dream alive.

The Stone Crabs and Miracle meet for the final time in 2014 on Sunday night at 5:00 PM. Jared Mortensen (1-1, 3.74 ERA) takes the hill against D.J. Baxendale (4-2, 5.92 ERA) on Family Fun Sunday presented by The Charlotte Sun. Fans will be able to receive autographs from Stone Crabs players upon entrance, play catch on the field, and kids can run the bases after the game! 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 August 23, 2014


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