FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs Close out Weekend with Extra Inning Win

Published on April 27, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


JUPITER, FL (April 27, 2014) - It wasn't supposed to end this way. 11 innings would have been more than enough for the Stone Crabs as they looked to close out their weekend in Jupiter in the third and deciding game. A 2-1 lead was spoiled by a Viosergy RBI single in the home half to tie the score and give Jose Molina a blown save. But he rebounded to close out the inning before Andrew Toles came through with his biggest hit of the season with an RBI single in the top of the 12th for a 3-2 victory.

Pitching was the story heading into the Sunday afternoon game at Roger Dean Stadium. And both starters, Reinaldo Lopez and Scott Lyman, held both offenses in check across the first seven innings. Both righthanders took 2-1 records into the meeting, only to depart with no decisions and watch their bullpens take care of the rest.

The Stone Crabs struck first in the top of the third after a leadoff single by Tommy Coyle. Patrick Leonard followed with a single of his own into center, but the ball hopped up on Alonzo Harris and rolled away to put a pair of runners in scoring position with nobody out. With one out, Justin O'Conner broke the scoreless tie with a sacrifice fly to left for a 1-0 lead. Leonard advanced to third, but Lyman fanned Josh Sale to end the inning.

Lopez looked strong coming off a nine strikeout performance in just six and a third innings in Tuesday night's victory against the Marauders. In the third, he walked Ryan Goetz before surrendering a one out single to Austin Barnes. Facing Ed Lucas, he got the third baseman to bounce into an easy 4-6-3 inning ending double play to retire the side. He then retired the next six hitters in order and carried the 1-0 advantage into the sixth.

A leadoff walk to Harris and a throwing error by shortstop Leonardo Reginatto put the first two runners at first and second with nobody out. Another double play ball off the bat of Lucas pushed Harris to third, and he soon scored to tie it up at one on the RBI single by Rosa. Lopez left after six with the one run charged to him unearned. Marcus Jensen came in for the next four innings just eight days after suffering his first loss in the same building in a 13-9 loss to the Cardinals.

It almost seemed like dj vu all over again for the righthander, who gave up a pair of singles to Blake Barber and Ross Wilson to open the inning. The runners stood at second and third with no outs after Kes Carter's throw came back in from right field, but Jensen retired the next three hitters in order to preserve the tie.

With the score still tied at one in the 11th, Coyle was hit with a 1-1 breaking ball from Hammerheads lefty Chipper Smith. Leonard's bloop single into right moved him to second before Carter lined out sharply to right field for the second out. O'Conner then snuck a single into center field for his second RBI of the game and a 2-1 lead. But Jose Molina blew the save in the bottom of the inning after allowing three base hits, including the game-tying RBI single to Rosa. Later in the frame, Jupiter loaded the bases with a chance to win it but Molina got Goetz to ground out to second.

Jake DePew opened the 12th with a five pitch walk, so Jared Sandberg lifted him for pinch-runner Marty Gantt. Jonathan Quionez then dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt, which allowed Toles to deliver his only base hit of the game with an RBI single into center for a 3-2 Stone Crabs lead. With another chance to close it out, Molina allowed a two out single to Lucas that Toles trapped in right center with a diving attempt. After home plate umpire Scott Costello signaled for out number three, he soon reversed the call after spirited complaints from both Sandberg and Hammerheads manager Brian Schneider. Molina then fell behind on the next hitter Cameron Flynn, but he flied out to right on a 2-0 pitch to end the game and give the Stone Crabs the series.

NOTES: When they open their three-game series in Port St. Lucie on Monday night, the Stone Crabs (10-13) will not hold a share of last place in the South Division for the first time since April 9they've now won two straight series and five of their last six games overallMolina (1-1) had eight saves over the last three seasons combinedJensen threw four shutout innings for the second time this season, and only allowed one baserunner in his final three framesToles was hitless in his first four at bats before the game-winning single in the 12thLeonard had two hits in all three games of the series and finished 6-for-12Coyle (2-for-5, two runs scored) had his first multi-hit game since April 16 against the MiracleReginatto finished 0-for-6 and had a nine-game hitting streak come to an end.

The Stone Crabs roadtrip continues in Port St. Lucie for the start of a three-game series with the Mets on Monday night at 6:30 PM. You can follow all the action by listening to the game on www.stonecrabsbaseball.com via TuneIn Radio, or tuning into 91.7 FM-WVIJ in the Port Charlotte area. The Stone Crabs Pregame Show starts at 6:10 PM on the Stone Crabs Radio Network!

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