FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs End Road Trip with 6-1 Win

Published on May 1, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


PORT ST. LUCIE, FL (April 30, 2014) - Leonel Santiago carried himself with the demeanor of a man who didn't have a care in the world. Always pleasant and upbeat, the starter carried an 0-3 record and an ERA over 10 into his fifth start against the Florida State League's most dangerous offense. In one of the most encouraging performances thus far, Santiago held the Mets to just two hits in five innings of work. And for the second straight night, the Stone Crabs bats made sure a 6-1 lead held up to give Santiago his first victory with the Rays organization.

Scoreless in the second, the Mets' Gilbert Gomez led off the inning with a five pitch walk. Another walk to Eudy Pina brought up catcher Albert Cordero, whose bunt attempt hung up in the air long enough for catcher Justin O'Conner to leap to his left and make a diving catch in foul territory. Philip Evans then rolled a grounder to first baseman Patrick Leonard, who threw to second to try and start an inning-ending double play. But Leonardo Reginatto's throw back to Santiago covering at first was a bit high and glanced off his mitt, which allowed Gomez to score the game's first run.

Steven Matz, the 12th overall prospect in the Mets organization, struck out Marty Gantt and Andrew Toles to begin the third. Reginatto walked and stole second base before Matz lost control and put Tommy Coyle on with another walk. On a 1-2 pitch, Patrick Leonard bashed a two run triple to the left field wall to put the Stone Crabs ahead 2-1. The lead was more than enough for Santiago, who put a pair of runners on in the third before retiring the final eight hitters he faced in a row.

With Matz gone after the fifth, the Stone Crabs took advantage of Mets reliever Julian Hilario. Kes Carter launched the first pitch of the sixth to right center for his second triple of the year. With Hector Guevara at the plate, Mets catcher Albert Cordero tried picking off Carter, but his throw sailed into left field to make it 3-1. A double by Guevara and a single by Gantt brought up Toles, who drove a sacrifice fly to center field for a 4-1 lead.

In the seventh, Hilario walked Leonard on four straight before fanning Tyler Goeddel for the first out. O'Conner soon took a 1-0 pitch out to left for his second home run and a 6-1 lead. The Mets tried mounting a comeback with a pair of hits in the seventh and eighth against Kevin Brandt and Parker Markel, but could not bring in another run for the rest of the evening.

NOTES: The Stone Crabs finished 4-2 on the roadtrip and have now won three straight series and seven of their last nine gamesthey outscored the Mets 17-3 in the final two games of the series after losing the opener 7-3Charlotte hit three of the eight home runs in the series after the Mets hit four on Monday nightSantiago's (1-3) ERA dropped from 13.20 to 9.90 after failing to pitch five innings in any of his first four startsBrandt put runners at second and third with no outs in the seventh before retiring the next three hitters in order and extending his scoreless innings streak to 14.1 IPMarkel threw two more scoreless innings, and has not allowed a run in his last eight appearances, spanning 12.2 IPReginatto, Leonard, O'Conner, Guevara, and Gantt each finished with two hits and accounted for 10 of the 12 hits.

The Stone Crabs return to Charlotte Sports Park for the start of a six-game homestand against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Thursday, May 1 at 6:30 PM. Roberto Gomez (1-2, 4.08 ERA) kicks off the season's second month against Jupiter's Josh Hodges (0-3, 7.40 ERA). It's Lawyers Night at the ballpark, as well as Thirsty Thursday, so enjoy 12 oz domestic drafts for only $1 while domestic bottles can be purchased at just $2! Specials run until the end of the 5th inning. 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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