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FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Port Charlotte Witnesses Historic Comeback Win

June 29, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - Down 8-0 in the middle of the third inning, the Charlotte Stone Crabs scratched and clawed all the way back to a stunning, emotional 11-9 win over the St. Lucie Mets on Tuesday night.

The win represents the largest comeback victory for the Stone Crabs in the history of Charlotte Sports Park, and ties the overall franchise record of eight runs set back in the team's inaugural season on July 18, 2009, when the Crabs rallied from an 11-3 deficit with a nine-run eighth to beat Lakeland on the road.

All looked lost in the early going of the game. Chris Pike wasn't himself from the get-go, allowing consecutive two-out rallies in the first two innings to make it 3-0 Mets. Meanwhile, St. Lucie starter Andrew Church threw just 12 pitches, all strikes, to get his first six outs.

The floodgates opened for the Mets in the third. Tomas Nido singled with one out, and Wuilmer Becerra followed with a double to drive in a run. Pike coaxed a fly ball from Luis Guillorme for the second out, but walked Tucker Tharp to bring up Jhoan Urena, who drove a double into the gap in right-center to score two and make it 6-0 Mets. Champ Stuart and Vinny Siena knocked back-to-back singles, bringing home two runs and knocking Pike out of the game down 8-0.

The Stone Crabs, faced with a deficit they'd never overcome in eight years of games at Charlotte Sports Park, began the long climb back. They got halfway in the third. Grant Kay doubled down the left field line with one out against Church, who immediately imploded. The former Mets second-round pick walked Bralin Jackson and then allowed a single up the middle to Brandon Guyer.

Stuart botched the play in center, enabling Kay and Jackson to score and Guyer to go to third. Riley Unroe drove in Guyer with a base hit to make it 8-3, stole second, and scored on a Justin Williams two-out RBI single to bring the Crabs back to 8-4. Church was removed from the game, forcing both teams to go to their bullpens before the end of the third inning.

It should be noted that Jose Alvarado and Brian Miller (3-1) were absolutely masterful out of the Crabs pen, allowing just one unearned run on three hits between the two of them with one walk and six strikeouts. Their efforts were crucial in keeping Charlotte in the game beyond the third inning.

Williams struck again in the fifth, doubling with one out and two on to score Unroe and make it 8-5. A Mac James groundout brought Alec Sole in from third to cut the edge down to 8-6.

St. Lucie got one back in the top of the sixth on a walk, a runner-advancing groundout, and two passed balls, but the Stone Crabs weren't finished. Down 9-6 in the seventh, the Stone Crabs put two on with nobody out before Williams and James both flew out for the first two outs of the inning. New call-up Joe McCarthy announced his presence with a line drive RBI single to make it 9-7, and Andrew Velazquez pulled Charlotte within a run with a single to left-center that scored Sole.

Finally, after a night of fighting their way back into the game, the Stone Crabs broke through for the lead in the eighth. Reliever Mike Hepple walked Jackson on four pitches to start the inning, necessitating a pitching change to closer Corey Taylor, who entered the contest with a 1.37 ERA and nine saves in as many chances.

Guyer, 1-for-11 on his rehab assignment to that point, scorched a big league double off the base of the left-center field wall to put runners on second and third with no outs. Taylor walked Unroe to load the bases, bringing the entire building to the edge of its seat.

Taylor finagled a ground ball to short out of Sole, but Guillorme panicked and airmailed the throw home, scoring Jackson and tying the game. Williams grounded the next pitch through the legs of Siena at second and into right-center, bringing home Guyer and Unroe and completing the history-making comeback victory.

The Stone Crabs and Mets are back in action on Wednesday night at Charlotte Sports Park, as RHP Edwin Fierro (2-2, 2.37) makes his first start of the year for the Stone Crabs against Mets LHP P.J. Conlon (0-0, 2.57). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35. It's $2 Wednesday, meaning parking, reserved level tickets, hot dogs, and sodas are all $2!

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Florida State League Stories from June 29, 2016


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