FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Miracle Send Stone Crabs to Sixth Straight Loss

Published on June 22, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (June 22, 2014) - In their first three losses on the homestand, the Stone Crabs were outclassed by the Cardinals and limited to a single run in each game. Yet on Sunday night, here they were even with the Miracle after Ariel Soriano's RBI single tied the score in the eighth. Shortly thereafter, Jorge Polanco's RBI single in the top of the ninth put Fort Myers ahead for good in a 4-3 win before 966 at Charlotte Sports Park.

Leonel Santiago has shown that despite pitching on a far superior level over the last few weeks, he needs an inning or two to get going. In the second, three straight singles made it 1-0 after Dalton Hicks scored Mike Gonzales. Later, a wild pitch skipped past Justin O'Conner behind the plate, and Stuart Turner ran in from third to give the Miracle a 2-0 edge.

With one out in the home second, Tyler Goeddel ripped a single off Matt Tomshaw. A double by Maxx Tissenbaum put the tying runs in scoring position for Marty Gantt. A wild pitch advanced the runners and allowed Goeddel to score and get the Stone Crabs on the board at 2-1. Following a walk to Gantt, another wild pitch got him to second, but not far enough for Tissenbaum to advance to tie the score. Kes Carter then popped out on the infield before Soriano grounded out to short to end the inning.

After leaving two more runners on base in the third, Tissenbaum woke up the crowd with a leadoff homer in the fourth to tie it at two. Another walk by Gantt and a sacrifice bunt by Carter pushed the go-ahead run to second, but Tomshaw retired Soriano and Coyle to keep the game tied at two. Just as the United States men's soccer team took a 2-1 lead on Portugal with a goal by Clint Dempsey, it was Turner sneaking a 1-2 pitch from Bruedlin Suero inside the left field foul pole to break the tie in the seventh.

Santiago had a large hand in keeping the Stone Crabs in the game because after the second, he'd only allow two more base hits over his last four innings. In the sixth, a one out single by Adam Brett Walker was canceled out by Carter's splendid play in center. After snagging a sinking line drive off the bat of Gonzales, he sent a one hop throw back to first for Patrick Leonard to pick for an inning-ending double play.

Soriano's game-tying single off Mason Melotakis (3-1) in the eighth came after a double by Carter after two quick outs to open the frame. All tied at three, Coyle worked a walk before Leonardo Reginatto flied out to center to end the threat. A leadoff single by Max Kepler off Jose Molina in the ninth preceded a sacrifice bunt by Niko Goodrum to set up Polanco. On a 2-0 pitch, he knocked a single into right to give the Miracle their third lead at 4-3.

Down to their final three outs in the ninth, Leonard started a rally against Tyler Jones with a leadoff single. He stole second base as O'Conner swung through an 0-2 pitch in the third. Jones then got Goeddel to ground out to third before Tissenbaum rocketed a liner to Kepler in center for the final out, giving Jones his ninth save in nine tries.

NOTES: The only other time the Stone Crabs lost six straight was from April 4-10, which included a three-game sweep at Hammond Stadium in the first meeting between the teamsSantiago retired nine in a row at one point and 13 of the final 15 hitters he faced after the Hicks RBI single in the secondSuero pitched the seventh and got the first two outs in the eighth before Molina (3-4) came in for the final out...Tissenbaum hit his second home run in as many nights, and his second against the MiracleGantt finished 0-for-1 with three walksCarter hit his 10th doubleSoriano finished 2-for-4 in his second game.

The series continues on Monday night at 6:30 PM when Blake Snell (1-3, 4.96 ERA) goes up against Jose Berrios (7-2, 2.09 ERA). Come on out to Charlotte Sports Park for Belly Buster Monday where all fans in attendance can enjoy an all-you-can-eat menu with the purchase of a wristband for just $10! There are still great seats 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 June 22, 2014


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