FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Miracle Sweep Stone Crabs with 6-4 Win

August 19, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (August 19, 2015) - The last two days at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers were affected by rain, keeping this series between the Stone Crabs and Miracle slightly off kilter. For the first three games, the main story was Miracle starting pitching, which had been almost dominant in three one sided wins. In Wednesday night's finale at Charlotte Sports Park, Luke Westphal continued that trend with six scoreless innings while his offense provided early run support against former teammate Chih-Wei Hu. Following an hour and 15 minute rain delay in the sixth, the Stone Crabs comeback fell short as they dropped their fourth straight by a final of 6-4.

Hu's first home start with the Stone Crabs started brilliantly as the righthander retired the first five Miracle hitters without any hiccups. Facing his former team, his adrenaline and excitement was interrupted when Marcus Knecht drew a two out walk in the second. Following a bloop single into right by Logan Wade, Jason Kanzler lofted a grounds rule double over the short fence in left to put the Miracle on the board with a 1-0 lead.

Hu's struggles continued in the third when he walked Aderling Mejia with one out. Josmil Pinto singled, and Mitch Garver collected his first hit of the series with a double down the left field line to make it 2-0. With two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position, Knecht knocked in both with a line single into left center for a 4-0 advantage. Hu (5-5) went 1-2-3 in the fourth, coming out of the game after throwing just 69 pitches, including 46 strikes.

Wetsphal's only baserunners over the course of his five innings came on two out singles from Pat Blair and Hector Guevara in the third. Facing lefty swinging Justin Williams, Westphal used his breaking ball to strike him out for the second time to end the inning. Racking up a season-high seven strikeouts, Westphal (4-4) was perfect in the fourth and fifth to close out his evening before the rain delay in the sixth.

The Miracle scored a run off Colton Reavis in the fifth with a two out double from Garver and a run scoring triple from Ryan Walker to make it 5-0. In the sixth, Wade led off with a triple off Kyle McKenzie and Kanzler backed it up with an RBI single for his third hit. After Zack Granite grounded out, the tarp was pulled onto the field before they resumed the game at 9:57. Jordan Harrison took control from the 'Crabs bullpen for the rest of the night, pitching the final three and two thirds while allowing just one hit and a pair of walks.

Charlotte's comeback began in the home sixth against righthander Jake Reed, who let Guevara get on with a one out infield single. Williams then bounced a ball back and to the right of second for a possible inning-ending double play, but Walker dropped it for an error. A walk to Willy Adames loaded the bases for Mike Marjama, who brought in the 'Crabs first run with a sacrifice fly to center. Maxx Tissenbaum's bloop single made it 6-2, and Granden Goetzman would ground out to short for the final out.

Zack Jones later struggled in the eighth after striking out the home side in the seventh. He walked Guevara and Adames, and Marjama brought in his second run with an opposite field double down the right field line for his team-leading 46th RBI. With runners at second and third and the tying run at the plate, Trevor Hildenberger was brought in to get Tissenbaum. The designated hitter rolled a grounder to second with the infield back for his second run batted in to make it 6-4. However, Hildenberger struck out Goetzman and went 1-2-3 in the ninth for his second save to give the Miracle their six straight win.

The homestand continues on Thursday night at 7:00 PM when the Stone Crabs welcome the Jupiter Hammerheads to Charlotte Sports Park to start a three game series. Join us for the Stone Crabs Football Kickoff Party, where you can enjoy $1 12 oz. fountain sodas and domestic draft beers as well as $2 domestic bottles until the end of the 5th inning! 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 19, 2015


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