FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Mets Steal First Game 6-4

Published on July 2, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (July 1, 2014) - Less than 24 hours after watching Viosergy Rosa ruin a long day in Jupiter with a game-winning three run homer, the Stone Crabs found another way to lose a close game at home. The Mets offense finally woke from its slumber, and used two runs in the eighth and three in the ninth to come back from 4-1 down and win 6-4. Two separate times in the ninth, they were down to their final strike, just to make matters more frustrating for Jared Sandberg and his team.

Early on, it seemed like the pieces were in place for Charlotte to upend its divisional foe, which had won five of the first eight meetings in the season series. A tough start against Mets starter Cory Mazzoni, who fanned the first four batters he faced, quickly disappeared. Maxx Tissenbaum's triple to right was his second against the Mets, and it came with one out in the second. Two batters later, Granden Goetzman got a hold of a pitch high and tight, muscling it into center for a 1-0 lead.

Reinaldo Lopez had gone through the Mets in order in the first two innings. A leadoff walk to Gilbert Gomez in the first led into a 1-6-3 double play started by Lopez off the bat of L.J. Mazzilli. In the second, a leadoff single by Aderlin Rodriguez was canceled out by Gavin Cecchini's double play ball up the middle fed between Leonardo Reginatto and Tommy Coyle. The Mets soon tied it in the third following a walk to Jeff McNeil and a passed ball. Eudy Pina's double to right evened the score at one apiece, but Lopez got Gomez and Mazzilli to ground out to end the inning.

With two outs in the fifth, a double by Reginatto down the left field line continued the inning for Leonard. On a 2-2 pitch, the normally pull-heavy first baseman rocked a triple to the gap in right center to put the Stone Crabs ahead 2-1. After pitching around a pair of singles by Tyler Goeddel and Goetzman in the sixth, Mets reliever Jake Kuebler had a tough time in the seventh.

For the second time, the Stone Crabs capitalized with two outs once Leonard's double and a walk to Justin O'Conner allowed Tissenbaum to stroke a two-run double to right center to make it 4-1. Sounded promising, but the Mets had different plans.

Facing Parker Markel for the second time in the eighth, Pina was hit with a 1-1 fastball to open the inning. Mind you, Markel needed just five pitches to retire the side in the seventh. Gomez then crushed a triple to straightaway center to get the Mets back within 4-2. Following a strikeout of Mazzilli, Maron lifted a shallow fly ball to left that Reginatto caught for the out. Gomez then tried tagging from third, and was aided by Reginatto's throw that hit field umpire Scott Costello, making it 4-3.

Ryan Garton (4-1) then got the first two outs in the ninth as he attempted to pick up his team-leading fifth save. Maikis De La Cruz started the comeback with an infield single to short on a 2-2 pitch. A payoff pitch to McNeil missed for a walk, and Pina tied it for the second time with a single into left. Goetzman nearly got De La Cruz at the plate, but he slid behind O'Conner's tag to tie it at four. A few moments later, Gomez roped a 3-2 pitch down the left field line to drive in two more runs and give the Mets their first and only lead at 6-4. The Stone Crabs then put the first two runners on in the bottom of the inning following a walk to Reginatto and a single by Leonard, by Paul Sewald picked up his fourth save by retiring the next three hitters.

The second game of the series gets underway Wednesday night at 6:30 PM when Leonel Santiago (2-6, 6.13 ERA) goes for his second straight win against Matthew Koch (7-2, 3.33 ERA). Fans, make sure you get your tickets for our biggest postgame Fireworks Show of the year and come celebrate Independence Day with us on Thursday, July 3, at 6:30 PM! We'll be giving away glow sticks, hosting a wing-eating contest presented by Cluck-U Chicken, and auctioning off special Independence Day gameworn hats. There will also be carnival games, face painting, and a bounce house. It's our biggest night of the year at Charlotte Sports Park, 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 July 2, 2014


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