Grabe Helps Fayetteville Split Twin-Bill with Morehead City
Published on July 15, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Fayetteville SwampDogs News Release
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. - Eric Grabe delivered a pair of two-run hits to help the Fayetteville SwampDogs earn a split with the Morehead City Marlins by winning the second game, 6-3. The Marlins captured game one, 3-2, at Puck O'Neal Field in Morehead City.
Fayetteville (26-14, 9-3) stayed a half-game ahead of the Wilmington Sharks for first place in the CPL South second half standing. The SwampDogs will host the Sharks tomorrow night in the final game before the CPL All-Star break.
Grabe tied the game with a two-run double in the fifth, the 159th hit of his career. That hit moved him into second place all-time in career hits in the CPL, breaking a tie with Will Skinner. The 160th hit of his career came in the following inning, a two-run single that turned a one-run lead into a three-run lead. Grabe is now just one hit behind Konstantine Diamaduros of Forest City on the all-time hit list.
In what was a "staff" game for the SwampDogs, Dom Macaluso (4-2) threw 1.1 innings to earn the win. Mike Anarumo started the game and threw two innings, followed by two innings of work from Derek Brooks. All three pitchers are typically starters, but needed the work with a rainout Wednesday, a scheduled off-day Thursday, and the All-Star break coming on Sunday and Monday.
Brandon Huffman picked up the final two outs of the sixth inning on a pair of strikeouts, stranding two marlins. Cody Davis picked up his league-leading 12th save by striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh.
Sam Lindquist (1-1) surrendered the winning run and suffered the loss for Morehead City (20-21, 6-7). He relieved Adam Norton, who made his first start of the year for the Marlins.
The SwampDogs did survive a scary moment in the fifth inning of the game on Grabe's two-run double. Second baseman Nick Crucet, who began the play at first base, reach third on the play but twisted his ankle as he tried to hold up and return to the bag. He remained down for a couple of minutes, but eventually walked off the field under his own power and is listed as day-to-day.
In game one, the SwampDogs got a solid pitching performance from starter Brandon Browne (1-1), but the offense could not manage much against Marlins starter Shawn Armstrong (4-2), who threw a complete game for the victory. Browne suffered the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out eight in 4.1 innings of work.
The SwampDogs appeared ready to rally in the top of the seventh, as Dylan Brown and Cody Hudson reached base to start the inning. But after a sacrifice bunt and RBI single from Dillon Checkal, Armstrong struck out Cody Davis with Hudson at third to end the game.
The SwampDogs return home to J.P. Riddle Stadium on tomorrow night against Wilmington for their annual StriKing Out Cancer Night. The SwampDogs will be wearing their pink jerseys, which will be auctioned off at the conclusion of the game. Gates open at 6 p.m., with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.
Coastal Plain League Stories from July 15, 2011
- Grabe Helps Fayetteville Split Twin-Bill with Morehead City - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Fiala Pitches Edenton to Eighth in a Row - Edenton Steamers
- HiToms score late to down Grizzlies - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- McCready, Copperheads Blank Owls - Forest City Owls
- Sharks take another win behind good hitting night - Wilmington Sharks
- Blowfish Walk off to Earn Split - Lexington County Blowfish
- Petersburg Squeezes Past Wilson - Wilson Tobs
- 2011 CPL All-Star Umpires Announced - Coastal Plain
- Aldrich in 2011 CPL Home Run Derby - Wilmington Sharks
- Long Ball Dooms Marlins in 8-5 Loss - Morehead City Marlins
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