FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Mets Stun 'Crabs in Final at Bat

Published on August 27, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT ST. LUCIE, FL (August 27, 2014) - In one of the wilder finishes in recent memory, the Stone Crabs were lucky to come back from an early 2-0 deficit to set up a potential win in their final meeting against the Mets. Tied at two in the ninth, Patrick Leonard sent a high chopper to short that was misplayed by Gavin Cecchini for an error that allowed Johnny Field to score the go-ahead run. Oddly enough, it was Leonard in the bottom of the ninth booting an L.J. Mazzilli grounder to third with the Mets down to their final strike for two runs to score and give St. Lucie a 4-3 victory on Wednesday night.

For the second straight night, Charlotte got a nice showing from its starter. Austin Pruitt, the hardluck loser in game two, handed off to Blake Snell for his final start of the season. After retiring the Mets in order in the second, the former first round pick surrendered a one out single to Maikis De La Cruz. Cecchini then ripped a double to the alley in left center to get the Mets on the board at 1-0. Another strikeout of Mazzilli sent Jared King to the plate for a run scoring single and a 2-0 lead.

The Stone Crabs nearly struck first when they loaded the bases with one out in the second courtesy of singles by Maxx Tissenbaum, Ariel Soriano, and Granden Goetzman off Domingo Tapia. Jonathan Quionez hit a short fly ball to right that wasn't deep enough, and Juniel Querecuto grounded out to first to retire the side. However, they'd finally get one back in the fifth off Tim Peterson while Snell dominated on the mound.

Snell came out after six, his only baserunner after the third being a two out walk to shortstop Phillip Evans in the sixth. He'd retire 10 of his last 11 hitters, and finished with seven strikeouts after fanning Albert Cordero for his last out. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Field hit a two out single right before David DeJesus drew a walk. Tommy Coyle pulled a single into right which got the Stone Crabs within a run a 2-1.

In the sixth, Goetzman earned his second base hit with a two out single off Peterson. A Quionez single brought up Querecuto, who hit a groundball to Mazzilli at second. Instead of the inning coming to an end, Mazzilli muffed it for the first error and Goetzman came in to tie the score at two apiece.

Still tied in the ninth, Leonard came up with a couple of runners on base after the Stone Crabs capitalized on a lack of control from Mets reliever Julian Hilario. The first pitch was chopped to short, but once again a ball that should have ended the inning hopped over Cecchini that gave the `Crabs their first lead at 3-2. With Colton Reavis trying to give Marcus Jensen his sixth victory, he opened the bottom of the inning by striking out Eudy Pina. The Mets, down to their last two outs, got a walk from number nine hitter Gilbert Gomez to put the tying run at first. A wild pitch moved him to second, and a De La Cruz popup into shallow right was knocked down by Coyle to put the winning run at first. Cecchini chased a ball in the dirt for a dropped third strike and the second out, but the runners advanced to second and third. Reavis jumped ahead of Mazzilli 0-2, but the next pitch turned out to be the game-winner: a chopper that hopped off Leonard at third and into left field to give the Mets a shocking 4-3 win.

The Stone Crabs return home to start their final series of the 2014 season on Thursday night at 6:30 PM against the Bradenton Marauders. You can follow all the action by listening to the game on www.stonecrabsbaseball.com via TuneIn Radio, or tuning into 91.7 FM-WVIJ in the Port Charlotte area. The Stone Crabs Pregame Show starts at 6:10 PM on the Stone Crabs Radio Network!

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