FSL1 Jupiter Hammerheads

Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short in Jupiter's 7-5 Loss

August 14, 2013 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Jupiter Hammerheads News Release


JUPITER, Fla. - Seventeen games remain on the Hammerheads' regular season schedule.

Each one is the most important game of the season, making each loss tougher to swallow than the last.

Such was the case in Jupiter's 7-5 loss to the second-place Charlotte Stone Crabs Wednesday night at Roger Dean Stadium. Now seven games back in the second half of the Florida State League South Division standings, the Hammerheads' hopes of repeating as division champs are quickly fading.

Jupiter (24-29, 60-61) rallied with a three-run ninth inning, scoring all three runs on two outs. A two-run double from Major League rehabber Casey Kotchman brought the winning run to the plate with runners at second and third. Charlotte reliever Shay Crawford got Hammerheads' third baseman Ryan Fisher to lineout, however, clinching the Stone Crabs' (28-20, 57-58) third straight win.

A five-run seventh fueled the win, as eight straight Stone Crabs reached to leadoff the inning.

Jupiter right-hander Kevin Cravey was removed after he plunked Alejandro Segovia with the bases loaded - the sixth straight batter to reach. Frank Reed allowed batters number seven and eight to reach on RBI singles - scoring runs number four and five - before retiring the next three batters to put an end to the nightmarish half inning.

The Hammerheads jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Yordy Cabrera RBI single in the second inning. Charlotte answered with two runs in the third - a Willie Argo RBI double and a Drew Vettleson RBI single - off starter Jake Esch.

The two third-inning runs were all that Esch allowed. He scattered five hits and walked three in five innings, striking out three. The Hammerheads are now 2-14 in Esch's 16 starts this season.

Esch's counterpart, Lenny Linsky, tossed four innings of one-run ball in his second career start.

The 2011 second-round pick held Jupiter to four hits and walked none. Linksy struck out three and threw 34 of 52 pitches (65 percent) for strikes.

Andrew Bellatti earned the win for his three innings of relief. The Hammerheads finally got to Bellatti in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. Alfredo Lopez worked a full count before coaxing a run-scoring walk. Ryan Rieger then struck out to end the threat.

Lopez singled to reach base for the fourth time and load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Rieger kept the line moving this time, scoring Noah Perio from third on a base hit to the shortstop. Kotchman's two-run double followed before Fisher lined out.

Kotchman wasn't the only Major League in Jupiter's lineup Wednesday night, as Chris Coghlan played third base on rehab assignment. The 2009 National League Rookie of the Year went 1- for-2 from the three-hole in the Hammerheads' lineup. He left after the fourth inning.

The Stone Crabs pounded-out 12 hits in the win. Richie Shaffer, Jeff Malm, Kes Carter, Vettleson and Argo recorded two hits each. In addition to his 2-for-4 effort, Argo filled the box score with two runs, a walk, a stolen a base - his 33rd this season - and an RBI.

Jupiter also tallied 12 hits, the most they've put up since July 31 - the last game a Hammerheads starting pitcher was credited with a win.

Lopez accounted for three of Jupiter's hits, his fourth three-hit effort in 43 games this season.

Lopez has a hit in 23 of his last 26 starts.

Brent Keys did not record a hit, which snapped a six-game hit-streak. He did walk twice, however. Keys - the Florida State League-leader in batting average (.356) and on-base percentage (.426) has reached base in 37 of his last 38 games.

The Hammerheads will look to salvage the final match of their three-game set with the Stone Crabs Thursday night at Roger Dean Stadium. RHP Jose Urena (9-6, 3.73 ERA) will start for Jupiter. He'll be opposed by Charlotte left-hander Grayson Garvin (0-0, 4.50 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

For more information on the Jupiter Hammerheads, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins, please call (561) 775-1818 or visit JupiterHammerheads.com. For tickets and more information about Roger Dean Stadium, visit RogerDeanStadium.com.

Check out the Jupiter Hammerheads Statistics



Florida State League Stories from August 14, 2013


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