FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Marauders Send 'Crabs to Sixth Straight Loss

Published on August 8, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - Amongst the many trials and tribulations during the second half of the season, this last week might be the toughest one yet for the Stone Crabs. Whereas last year's season was briefly rejuvenated by a few days off mostly due to rain, this year's spell has done the opposite. Although there weren't nearly as many opportunities as there were on Friday night, the `Crabs came up just short in the second game of this weekend series against the Marauders. With a 2-1 win, Bradenton remained two games back in the South while Charlotte dropped its sixth in a row for the first time in 2015.

The final lasting image from game one was Austin Meadows ninth inning home run off Isaac Gil which was the final blow in a 6-4 Marauders victory. It didn't take Meadows very long when he came up in the first against Greg Harris, who was looking for his first win since his impressive debut against the Mets on July 21. Meadows hooked into a 1-2 pitch and clobbered it onto the boardwalk in right center for his seventh home run and a 1-0 lead.

Harris and the `Crabs were fortunate to be as close as they were throughout the evening because the Marauders nearly put the game to bed very early. In the second, Edwin Espinal drew a leadoff walk before Reese McGuire and Wyatt Mathisen singled to load the bases with no outs. Despite their impressive offensive numbers, the Marauders have been average with the bases loaded, and that continued against Harris. Michael Fransoso bounced the first offering to first, where Mike Marjama started a 3-2-3 double play that was aided by the Marauders' second baseman being called out for runners interference. With runners at first and second, Chris Diaz flied out to right to end the first threat.

Charlotte could never figure out a way to solve lefthander Cody Dickson, who was trying to become the second active pitcher in the Florida State League to reach 10 wins. For the first six innings, his only jam came in the third when Kean Wong sandwiched a two out double between walks by Marty Gantt and Willy Adames. On a 2-1 pitch, Mike Marjama slashed a bouncer to second where the force out went up the middle to take care of the side.

With runners at the corners and no outs in the third, Harold Ramirez rolled into the first of two 6-4-3 double plays to bring in the second run. Later in the fourth, Espinal led off with a single and McGuire and Mathisen drew walks to reload the bases with no outs. Once again, Fransoso grounded out to first and Espinal was forced out at home, and Diaz rolled one in front of the plate for Armando Araiza to start an easy 2-3 double play to retire the side.

Dickson (10-5) left with two outs in the seventh following a one out single by Jace Conrad and a two out walk to Braxton Lee. With Henry Hirsch pitching, Marty Gantt brought in his 25th run with a single up the middle to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. However, Hirsch got out of it when Wong's hard grounder ended up right at Fransoso for the final out. In the eighth, Hirsch lost his fastball momentarily and walked Maxx Tissenbaum and Yoel Araujo to put the tying run at second before Conrad popped out to short for the final out. In the ninth, Montana DuRapau retired the side in order for his eighth save to give the Marauders the series.

The Stone Crabs will look to salvage the final game in the series when German Marquez (5-10, 3.33 ERA) takes the mound against fellow righthander Clay Holmes (0-1, 2.35 ERA). All kids 13 and under eat FREE with the purchase of a regular priced ticket and tickets are still available, so visit www.stonecrabsbaseball.com or call 941-206-HITS (4487) to order your tickets now!

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Florida State League Stories from August 8, 2015


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