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Charlotte Stone Crabs

'Crabs Win Nail-Biter over Cardinals 1-0

April 23, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (April 23, 2015) - In the first two series between the Stone Crabs and Cardinals, the Cardinals have carried a three-game winning streak into game one. Both times now, the `Crabs have halted Palm Beach's momentum, albeit in two completely different fashions. Last Friday, the offense used an early 10-0 lead to get the ball rolling and set the tone in a three-game sweep. On Thursday night at Charlotte Sports Park, the `Crabs rode their pitchers to the very end in a 1-0 shutout before a loud crowd of 1,776 to improve to 10-5.

Scoreless in the second, Jacob Faria surrendered a one out single to left fielder Ronald Castillo for the game's first hit. Two pitches later, Jose Gonzales rolled into a 4-6-3 double play turned well up the middle by Kean Wong and Willy Adames. In the bottom of the inning, Jake Bauers extended his hitting streak to eight straight with a leadoff single off Trey Nielsen. A one out walk to Maxx Tissenbaum and a Juniel Querecuto groundout got the runners into scoring position, but Marty Gantt was denied of a base hit thanks to a gorgeous diving stab by second baseman Robelys Reyes on a rising line drive.

One of the Stone Crabs only offensive threats came in the third, starting with a routine groundball to short off the bat of Wong. Juan Herrera brought it in, but his throw pulled Mason Katz off first for a monumental error. Next up was James Loney, down for a rehab assignment to test out his strained oblique. After flying out to left in his first at bat, the Rays first baseman shot a double down the left field line. Castillo came up firing to third to nab Wong flying around second, but the ball caromed off the second baseman's leg and rolled near the Cardinals dugout. With two errors in the same inning, the Stone Crabs run came in unearned and it was 1-0.

Faria (3-0) was perfect in innings three and four, but surrendered a pair of two out singles to Gonzales and Herrera in the fifth. With runners at the corners, Reyes went down swinging for the final out. More of that would follow in the later innings as the Cardinals looked for the tying run.

Charlotte loaded the bases in the fourth following a couple of walks to Joey Rickard and Querecuto. A Marty Gantt infield single loaded the bases, but Nielsen worked through by getting Braxton Lee to ground out to retire the side.

Steve Ascher's second appearance showed his grittiness yet again. In the seventh, a one out single by Rowan Wick and a wild pitch put the tying run at second base. A deep flyout to center moved Wick to third, and a walk to Gonzalez allowed the lefthander to retire Herrera on a flyout to right. In the eighth, Reyes led off with a perfect bunt single beyond the first base side of the mound. A sacrifice got him to second, and an Ascher balk once again put the tying run at third base. With two chances to tie the score, the Cardinals got a flyout from Katz and a Bruce Caldwell strikeout to keep Charlotte ahead 1-0.

Brad Schreiber was then summoned from the bullpen for his third save in as many tries. When Schreiber last left the mound in Bradenton on Wednesday night, he had just surrendered the eventual game-winning home run to Edwin Espinal. Needing three outs, Schreiber made things tricky by walking Luke Voit to start the ninth. With Brett Wiley on as a pinch-runner, he got Wick to send a slow chopper to the right side. Unfortunately, both Schreiber and Bauers collided and the ball dropped for an infield single. Castillo's groundout to second put runners at second and third with just one out. Once again, the Cardinals failed to drive the run in and Schreiber struck out Gonzalez before Herrera grounded out to short to end the ballgame.

The Stone Crabs can take the series on Friday, April 24 at 6:30 PM when German Marquez (0-0, 7.00 ERA) takes on Corey Littrell (0-2, 6.00 ERA). Cal Ripken Jr. will be at Charlotte Sports Park representing Ripken Baseball! When the gates open, enjoy FREE draft beer until the end of the 1st inning with the purchase of a SPECIAL $15 ticket! Free draft beer will be available at the Tiki Bar in left center field ONLY. Tickets are still available, so visit www.stonecrabsbaseball.com or call 941-206-HITS (4487) to order your tickets now!

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