FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Second Straight Extra-Inning Game Goes for Crabs

Published on June 4, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


JUPITER, FL - For the second straight night, it took longer than nine innings. And for the second straight night, the Stone Crabs won the game.

Charlotte knocked home three in the tenth against Jupiter reliever Victor Araujo, and the Stone Crabs beat the Hammerheads 5-2 at Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday night.

With the win, the Stone Crabs moved into sole possession of second place, just two games behind Bradenton for the FSL South Division lead.

The game was tied 2-2, as the Stone Crabs had blown an eighth inning lead for the second consecutive game. But unlike Wednesday, when it took 14 innings to decide a winner, Charlotte wrapped this one up quickly. Andrew Velazquez walked to lead off the tenth, and Mac James followed with a single into right to put runners on first and second with no outs.

Justin Williams hit a grounder up the right field line that, while it could have easily been ruled a double, was considered a ball first baseman Taylor Ard should have had. Regardless of the questionable scoring call, Velazquez scored the go-ahead run, with James ending up on third. Three batters later, Jace Conrad lined a single into right-center to score James and Williams. Conrad was caught attempting to stretch it into a double to end the inning.

Jeff Howell (1-2) allowed runners to reach second and third with one out in the bottom of the inning, but the knuckleballer struck out Justin Bohn and Brian Schales to end the game.

Charlotte had the lead in a topsy-turvy first few innings. Riley Unroe led off the game with a base hit, and Hammerheads starter Luis Castillo threw away Velazquez's bunt, putting runners on second and third with no outs. After a fielder's choice and a walk, Alec Sole dropped a grounder to first that scored Unroe and put Charlotte in front.

Jupiter got one back in the second, as Greg Harris loaded the bases with one out and gave up an RBI single to Dexter Kjerstad to tie the game. Harris got a double play to retire the threat. In the next half-inning, Charlotte re-took the lead on a Bralin Jackson single, scoring Williams from third.

That 2-1 edge held up all the way until the eighth inning, as Harris overcame sub-optimal command to battle through five and line himself up for the win. Howell coaxed a grounder to short from John Norwood, but Velazquez's throw on the run sailed wide, putting Norwood on second. A wild pitch moved Norwood to third, and a sac fly from Bohn tied the game at 2.

The Stone Crabs next head to Steinbrenner Field in Tampa for a four-game set with the Yankees, who hold the best record in the FSL at 34-19. RHP Chris Pike (2-5, 3.64) starts the series for the Stone Crabs against Yankees RHP Will Carter (0-0, 6.39). First pitch is scheduled for 7.

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Florida State League Stories from June 4, 2016


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