FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Hitting Keeps Churning, Crabs Down Tigers

Published on May 20, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


LAKELAND, FL - The Charlotte Stone Crabs entered this road trip off a dramatic, walk-off win in the bottom of the 13th inning on Thursday night.

It seems they had a lot more offense left in the tank.

The Stone Crabs scored in four of the first five innings, knocking top Tigers prospect Kevin Ziomek out of the game early, and Charlotte beat Lakeland 5-3 on Friday night at Henley Field.

Ziomek (0-1) struggled from the get-go in his 2016 season debut. Alec Sole, the second man up in the game, mashed his team-high fourth home run of the year to put the Crabs ahead 1-0. Jace Conrad singled to lead off the following inning. Bralin Jackson replaced him on base with a fielder's choice, and Thomas Milone walked to put two on with one out. A daring double steal moved the runners up a bag, and Grant Kay plated Jackson with a single to left field to make it 2-0 Charlotte.

Early on, it looked like the Flying Tigers would have answers. Hunter Wood (3-2), the newly-christened Stone Crabs ace, was uncharacteristically wild early. The right-hander walked seven-hitter Joey Pankake to lead off the third, then gave up a two-run homer to veteran Casey Frawley to tie the game at 2. The Crabs re-took the lead in the fourth, with Mac James leading off the frame with a triple and scoring on a Jackson single, but Frawley struck again in the bottom half, as Wood walked two with two out and gave up an RBI single to the Tigers shortstop.

But the Flying Tigers just couldn't keep up with the relentless Stone Crab assault. Ziomek, tiring by the fifth, gave up a one-out double to the wall to Riley Unroe. Sole singled to put runners on the corners, and breakout star Cade Gotta gave the Crabs the lead for good and sent Ziomek to the showers with one swing, a hot-shot base hit into left that scored Unroe and moved Sole to third. James grounded out against reliever Jeff Thompson, scoring Sole and making it 5-3.

Wood eventually rounded into form in the later innings. The superstar hurler fanned five of the last six batters he faced, including much-heralded slugger Christin Stewart, and struck out the side in his final inning. Jose Alvarado and Brian Miller combined to toss three scoreless innings of relief to close things out.

The Stone Crabs and Flying Tigers get going again on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6 pm. RHP Benton Moss (2-3, 4.61) looks to build off a strong last outing against Lakeland RHP Endrys Briceno (1-2, 5.97). Catch it live on the Stone Crabs This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Florida State League Stories from May 20, 2016


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