FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Miracle Hold on to Edge 'Crabs 5-3

Published on May 1, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


FORT MYERS, FL - With a three game lead in the South, the Stone Crabs ensured themselves of the best opening month in franchise history thanks to a 14-6 start. However, it seems that they find themselves offensively challenged against the equally offensively challenged Fort Myers Miracle whenever they meet. On Thursday night, Chih-Wei Hu held the Stone Crabs down while Niko Goodrum's third inning home run off German Marquez was the difference in a 5-3 Miracle victory in front of 1,881 at CenturyLink Sports Complex.

For the second time in as many games, the `Crabs got a rehab start from a lefthander to get them going. After Hu struck out the side swinging in the top of the first, it was Enny Romero's turn as he worked his way back from a back strain. A Stone Crab in 2012 when he made 23 starts, the 24-year-old walked Engelb Vielma and Aderling Mejia before Goodrum grounded out to second. Mitch Garver then worked the count full before sending a sacrifice fly to left for a 1-0 Fort Myers lead.

Charlotte answered back in the second thanks to a leadoff walk from Jake Bauers. A one out single by Juniel Querecuto brought up Armando Araiza, who sliced a slow grounder off the very top of his bat towards short. The weird spin forced the ball to hop up on Vielma and roll away into left center field, giving Bauers enough time to race around and score the tying run. With runners at second and third, Hu retired Mike Marjama and Yoel Araujo to end the threat.

Romero surrendered two singles in the second before striking out Logan Wade and Jason Kanzler for the first two outs. Marquez then came in after warming up in the bullpen, striking out Vielma to send it to the third. Mejia led off the home half with a single and Marquez jumped ahead of Goodrum 0-2. The next pitch caught too much of the inner half, and Goodrum dropped down to send a two-run shot over the wall in the right field corner for a 3-1 lead. Later in the inning, Marquez' (1-1) control eluded him and a passed ball and wild pitch scored Alex Swim after he had reached on a fielder's choice.

The Stone Crabs made it 4-2 in the fifth courtesy of three singles by Marjama, Araujo, and Wong. With the tying runs on base, Hu (3-0) once again got out of trouble by retiring Willy Adames and Bauers for the last two outs. Facing Josh Kimborowicz in the eighth, Fort Myers got a leadoff double from Kanzler and a sacrifice bunt from Vielma to put a runner at third with only one out. Mejia's sacrifice fly to left got Kanzler and put the Miracle back in front by three at 5-2.

J.T. Chargois went for his second save against the `Crabs against the bottom third of the order in the ninth. Araiza sent a routine grounder to third base on the first pitch of the inning, but Goodrum's throw skipped under the glove of first baseman Bryan Haar for an error. Marjama's broken bat single into right brought the tying run to the plate, but Araujo flied out to deep right for the first out. A five pitch walk to Marty Gantt loaded the bases for Wong, who brought in his second run with a fielder's choice groundout. With two outs and the score 5-3, Adames came up and had the tying runs in scoring position after Wong stole second base. With the count full, Chargois unleashed a sharp breaking ball and Adames failed to check his swing, ending the night and giving the Miracle game one.

The teams get back to it on Friday, May 1 at 6:30 PM when the split four-game series reverts to Charlotte Sports Park. It's Free Beer Friday, so fans can enjoy FREE draft beer until the end of the 1st inning with the purchase of a SPECIAL $15 ticket! Free draft beer will be available at the Tiki Bar ONLY. 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 May 1, 2015


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