FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

'Crabs Take First Series from Miracle

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


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (August 24, 2014) - Jared Sandberg's 2014 Stone Crabs have been tough and resilient all year, especially over the last five weeks. To deem this team a group of battlers would be a compliment to their work ethic and commitment to erasing a tough start to the season. A loss on Friday night to the Fort Myers Miracle didn't deter Charlotte from getting even on Saturday with a 7-3 win. Sunday night was no different as Jared Mortensen scattered just two runs on two hits in a seven inning gem as the `Crabs took their only series from the Miracle in the regular season finale.

D.J. Baxendale took the mound in the home first with a win against the Stone Crabs under his belt from back in early July. A double by Tyler Goeddel and a couple of hit batsmen hurt the former Arkansas Razorback, who got Ariel Soriano to hit a grounder to short. Instead of ending the inning, Aderling Mejia took too long to get it out of his mitt and everyone was safe to make it 1-0.

The lead didn't last long for Mortensen, who fell behind on Dalton Hicks to open the second before a double got the tying run into scoring position. A strikeout of Adam Brett Walker led to Max Kepler bouncing one to the right side for first baseman Patrick Leonard. He grabbed it without any problems, but his flip to Mortensen at first was too far behind the pitcher and rolled all the way towards the Stone Crabs dugout. The error allowed Hicks to score the tying run, but Mortensen got two flyouts to right to retire the side.

Goeddel prolonged the third with a two out walk so that Johnny Field could crack a double the other way down into the right field corner to regain the lead at 2-1. Walker started a relay that resulted in Field getting hosed at third for the final out as he tried to stretch his 11th two base hit into a triple. With one out in the fourth, the Miracle tied it again when Walker hit a majestic home run to left field for his 25th longball. Surprisingly, the normally potent offense would not collect any more hits the rest of the way.

Marty Gantt roped a double in the home fourth and advanced to third on a wild pitch from Baxendale to push the go-ahead run within 90 feet. Juniel Querecuto got a pitch down and scooped a two out single over second baseman Tyler Grimes to put Charlotte back in the lead at 3-2. Three singles in the fifth courtesy of Ryan Hanigan, Goeddel, and Field loaded the bases with one out for Soriano. After driving in a pair of runs on Saturday night, Soriano added his second RBI with a sacrifice fly to left to double the lead at 4-2. Gantt arrived again with a run scoring single to make it 5-2, and ensured that Mortensen (2-1) wouldn't sweat as he worked through seven for the first time with the Stone Crabs. Following Walker's home run, the Miracle drew four walks over the final three innings but never advanced a runner past first. Colton Reavis later earned his seventh save with the last four outs for the win.

The Stone Crabs head to Port St. Lucie on Monday night at 6:30 PM to start a three-game series with the Mets. 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 6:10 PM on the Stone Crabs Radio Network!

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Florida State League Stories from August 24, 2014


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