FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs cruise to series-opening victory

Published on May 4, 2012 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


CLEARWATER -- After playing 16 innings last time out, the Charlotte Stone Crabs left nothing to chance on Friday. Charlotte used an eighth inning explosion to cruise to an 11-2 series opening victory over the Clearwater Threshers at Bright House Field.

The top of the Stone Crabs order energized an offense that set a season-high with 17 hits on the night. Ty Morrison, Robby Price and Riccio Torrez combined to go 8-for-17 with seven RBI's and five runs scored.

All of those runs supported a stellar relief performance by C.J. Riefenhauser (4-0), who remained undefeated while taking the staff lead in victories.

Power hitting was on display as well, with Price and Phil Wunderlich each belting home runs. Price connected for a solo-shot in the seventh, while Wunderlich's blast came on the first pitch of a six-run eighth inning rally that put considerable distance between the two clubs.

Morrison, fresh off a four-hit night against Bradenton on Friday, continued his torrid pace. The Charlotte center fielder has nine hits in his last 17 at-bats, collecting four RBI's, two runs scored and three stolen three bases over that stretch. That hot hitting has helped Morrison raise his batting average some 44 points, up to .291 on the year.

While Enny Romero was a non-factor after being removed with two outs in the fourth, Riefenhauser continued his phenomenal start to the 2012 season. Riefenhauser picked up the win with 5-1/3 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just two hits while striking out four.

Charlotte built up a 3-1 lead for Romero with single runs in each of the first three innings against Clearwater starter Adam Morgan (0-3).

Torrez tripled home the game's first run in the first inning, narrowly missing a two-run homer when the ball hit the top of the wall in left center field and bounced back into play. An inning later, Morrison stroked his first of two RBI-singles on the night, before Keith Castillo's run-scoring ground out in the third capped the scoring against Morgan.

Romero departed after Clearwater pulled to within a run on Pete Lavin's RBI-double in the fourth inning. He allowed just two hits, but walked a season-high four batters and hit another in allowing two earned runs over 3-2/3 innings of work.

With Romero gone and Riefenhauser in, it was lights out from that point on as the Threshers managed just two more hits on the night. Riefenhauser's 5-1/3 scoreless innings lowered his ERA to 0.99 on the year, tying him with Brevard County's Hiram Burgos for second in the Florida State League.

While the club needed 16 innings to score three runs on 16 hits against Bradenton on Friday, the Charlotte offense came to life in the late innings against a trio of Clearwater relievers.

The big blow came in the eighth inning against Garett Claypool, who yielded six earned runs and departed without recording an out. Wunderlich deposited Claypool's first pitch of the inning over the right field wall, the first of six consecutive hits to open the frame. Hector Neris was summoned from the bullpen, but by that time things had gotten out of hand for the Threshers.

Aside from the top three men in the order, Charlotte had four other hitters enjoy multi-hit nights. Castillo, Wunderlich, Craige Lyerly and Robi Estrada each turned in two hits apiece.

Price has really heated up of late. He collected three more hits, including his first homer of the year while driving home three runs. After switching defensively from second to third base in the ninth, Price turned in a circus catch when he ran down a pop-up in foul territory up the left field line and flipped into the stands to record the final out of the game.

This series continues on Saturday as the Stone Crabs send right-hander Albert Suarez to the mound in search of his first win of the season. The Threshers will counter with righty Brody Colvin. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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