FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Seventh Inning Sinks Stone Crabs

Published on August 21, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - The Charlotte Stone Crabs entered this weekend with their heads held high, fresh off a sweep of the then-first-place Jupiter Hammerheads.

They left it with more questions than answers.

Top prospect Cole Tucker hit a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Bradenton Marauders completed a three-game sweep of the Stone Crabs with a 7-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park.

The Stone Crabs scored their only run of the game in the first inning. Andrew Velazquez led off the game with a base hit against Yeudy Garcia, and Grant Kay hit a bunt single to put two on. Garcia (6-8) threw the bunt away, allowing Velazquez to advance to third, and Joe McCarthy knocked the speedy infielder home with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 Charlotte.

Bradenton struck back in the second, as Jordan Luplow homered to left to tie the game. That was all Benton Moss allowed, as the right-hander put together his third straight start pitching into the sixth and allowing one earned run or fewer. Moss escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam in the fifth with a pop-up and a double play.

The floodgates opened in the seventh, though. Ian Gibaut entered and promptly walked Taylor Gushue, and Michael Suchy followed with a double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Gibaut (1-2) secured a short fly out from Justin Maffei, but Tucker smacked his double down the left field line to score both runs and make it 3-1. Kevin Kramer singled home Tucker two batters later, and another hit for Luplow knocked Gibaut out of the game.

Steve Ascher came on for the Crabs and immediately gave up a triple to Connor Joe, scoring both Kramer and Luplow to blow the game open. Ascher allowed another run on an error in the eighth to make the 7-1 final.

The Stone Crabs have a chance to make a dent in the FSL South gap, as they go play the first-place St. Lucie Mets while sitting two games back of the division lead. The first game of the series takes place Tuesday night at 6:30. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Florida State League Stories from August 21, 2016


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