FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Crabs Unload on Sharks in 14th

Published on June 4, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


JUPITER, FL - After three and a half hours and nine different pitchers, last night's 14th inning had to feel pretty cathartic for the Stone Crabs.

Charlotte tagged Hammerheads lefty Jose Jose for six runs in a massive outburst of an inning, and the Crabs beat Jupiter 8-3 in 14 at Roger Dean Stadium on Wednesday night.

The late effort saved what should have been a sure win for Benton Moss, who put in perhaps the best effort by a Stone Crabs starter all season. The former UNC Tar Heel pitched seven brilliant one-hit frames, shutting out the Hammerheads while walking none and fanning six. Moss faced just one over the minimum.

He had support early. Jace Conrad led off the second against Dillon Peters with a base hit, and ended up on third with two outs. Bralin Jackson worked out a walk, and then Thomas Milone drove a 1-0 pitch into center to score Conrad and put Charlotte ahead 1-0. Andrew Velazquez followed with a double down the right field line, bringing in Jackson and making it 2-0 Crabs.

But Charlotte failed to score again after, and Jupiter finally took advantage in the eighth. Jose Alvarado walked the only two men he saw and was swiftly removed, but the damage was done. Brian Schales dropped a sacrifice against Brian Miller to move the runners to second and third, and Chris Hoo smacked a double down the left field line to tie the game.

Miller settled in after there, throwing two more scoreless frames. Ian Gibaut (1-0) was tremendous in the later innings, keeping the Hammerheads off the board in the 11th, 12th, and 13th. But the Charlotte offense whimpered through, forcing Gibaut to defend a tie game all the way down.

That is, until everything exploded.

Jose (0-1) was in trouble from the get go in the 14th. Alec Sole singled to lead off the inning. Cristian Toribio bunted him over to second, and then Jackson singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Thomas Milone seemingly won the game with a double that scored Sole, but the Stone Crabs weren't close to done.

Andrew Velazquez, Nick Ciuffo, and Cade Gotta all drove in runs with hits in the ensuing three at-bats, and Williams made it 7-2 with a groundout that chased Jose from the game (and the organization-Jose was released by the Marlins after the game). Sole, the 10th man up in the inning, drove in the final run with a base hit off backup catcher Arturo Rodriguez.

Michael Franco allowed a run but nothing more in the bottom half of the inning to finish it off.

The series concludes Thursday night at Roger Dean Stadium, with RHP Greg Harris (4-4, 3.27) battling RHP Luis Castillo (5-2, 2.13). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30.

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Florida State League Stories from June 4, 2016


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