FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs Collapse in Ninth

Published on June 26, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (June 25, 2015) - Chris Kirsch was done after eight innings for just the second time in his career on a night when he may have never been better. The lefthander worked quickly and effectively, scattering just two hits and a walk while striking out five against a smoking hot Miracle team that had won seven straight and 12 of their last 14. One Stone Crabs run in the third had stood up, and during a remarkable first half, it would have usually been enough. However, the Miracle scored two in the ninth off Brad Schreiber, who suffered his first blown save in a 2-1 loss before 1,423 at Charlotte Sports Park.

Kirsch was not alone in wearing the cape of the hero because Aaron Slegers stood opposite him for manager Jeff Smith. The game started and went by quickly as both sides went in order for the first two innings. In the third, Miracle shortstop Engelb picked up a two out single and stole second before Kirsch fanned Jason Kanzler to retire the side.

After Slegers retired the first seven batters he faced, Pat Blair broke through with a sinking one out double into left center. Braxton Lee offered at the first pitch, and a slow grounder to third advanced Blair for the top of the order. Next up was Grady Sizemore, who swung away and sent a tricky chopper to first that hopped off of Bryan Haar for a huge error and a 1-0 Stone Crabs lead.

Charlotte's only other hits off Slegers came on a leadoff single from Willy Adames in the fourth and a pair of two out singles by Maxx Tissenbaum and Mike Marjama in the seventh. Slegers left on the losing end despite striking out eight without any walks after seven. In a battle of wills, Kirsch was just a tad better as he went 1-2-3 in five of his first six innings. In the seventh, Chad Christensen led off with a single to put the tying run on, but Alex Swim bounced into a double play at first started by Marjama.

When Kirsch coasted through a perfect eighth, the Stone Crabs had one final chance to add to the lead but were retired in order by Cory Williams (3-0). In the ninth, Brad Schreiber (0-2) came in as he so often did in the first half when Charlotte won 15 one run games. The inning started with a walk to the number nine hitter Vielma, who advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt. A strikeout of Kanzler and a groundout to first by Christensen brought up the dangerous Swim, who buried a 1-1 hanger into the right field corner for a game-tying triple. A passed ball brought in the go-ahead run for the Miracle, who turned to righthander D.J. Johnson for the last three outs. Despite a one out single by Granden Goetzman, Marty Gantt and Tissenbaum both grounded out to end the heartbreaker.

The home-and-home series wraps up on Friday night in Fort Myers at 7:05 PM when Steve Ascher (4-0, 1.56 ERA) makes his first start against All-Star Chih-Wei Hu (4-1, 2.17 ERA). 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 6:45 PM on the Stone Crabs Radio Network!

Check out the Charlotte Stone Crabs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Florida State League Stories from June 26, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central