FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs Blank Cardinals 2-0

Published on August 14, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (August 13, 2014) - Just one night after losing a tight one to the Cardinals despite holding a three run lead after the fifth, Stone Crabs pitchers delivered the eighth shutout of the season in game two. Starting with Reinaldo Lopez, two early runs off Tyrell Jenkins held up as the `Crabs evened the series at a game apiece before a crowd of 3,301. On a night dedicated to Sergeant Michael Wilson, Jared Sandberg's team delivered a thorough defensive performance and prevailed 2-0 to set up the deciding game of the series in the final regular season meeting against the Cardinals on Thursday night.

After falling to former first round pick Tyrell Jenkins last week at Roger Dean Stadium, the offense fared better the second time around. The Cardinals righthanded starter breezed through the first inning with just seven pitches before letting up the only runs of the night in the second and third. Tyler Goeddel rocked his 22nd double of the season to open the second. He waited there while Luke Bailey walked with two outs, which allowed Juniel Querecuto to break out of his funk with a single into right for a 1-0 lead.

Lopez answered without any blemishes in his first two innings despite base hits in each, including a two out double by Jimmy Bosco in the second. He watched from the first base dugout as Tommy Coyle punished a triple to right center to lead off the third. Two pitches later, second-year center fielder and former Arizona Wildcat Johnny Field singled him home to give Charlotte a 2-0 lead. Later in the frame, Goeddel reached on a fielder's choice groundout, only to move to third after stealing second and watching the throw from catcher Dante Rosenberg skip into center field. But Marty Gantt flied out to right to retire the side and send the game to the fourth.

In one of his finest starts in weeks, Lopez surrendered a leadoff single to left fielder Anthony Garcia in the fifth. After a fielder's choice groundout by Bosco, Lopez got the dangerous switch-hitter Ildemaro Vargas to hit into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play. He later returned for the top of the seventh, but a pair of walks put the tying runs on for the Cardinals and forced Jordan Harrison to come in from the bullpen.

Harrison's night did not start well once Garcia rolled an infield single to the left side to load the bases with nobody out. However, the disappearing act began once pinch-hitter Mason Katz flied out to shallow left for the first out without moving the runners. A battle with Vargas later resulted in an 0-2 pitch that was bounced to Coyle at second for an inning-ending double play up the middle to end the threat. Harrison was perfect in the eighth before Colton Reavis earned his fourth save with a flawless ninth to secure the shutout.

The Stone Crabs and Cardinals meet for the final time during the regular season on Thursday night at 6:30 PM. Austin Pruitt (9-4, 3.75 ERA) will try to become the first Stone Crabs pitcher with 10 wins when he goes up against Nick Petree (7-4, 2.08 ERA). There are still great seats 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 14, 2014


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