Stone Crabs Game Notes - Fri, May 17 at Clearwater
May 17, 2019 - Florida State League (FSL) - Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release
The Stone Crabs visit Clearwater this weekend for a three-game series beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. RHP Tommy Romero starts the series opener, against RHP RHP Julian Garcia of the Threshers.
Coverage starts at 6:15 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.
STONE CRABS EARN SPLIT WITH DAYTONA
The Stone Crabs got just enough offense Thursday, defeating Daytona 3-1 with only four hits to earn a split of the four-game series. Thomas Milone delivered a two-run home run in the fourth inning that got Charlotte on top for good. Tobias Myers earned the win, going four innings in back of two openers.
POWER SURGE
On Tuesday, the Stone Crabs set a season high with three home runs in one game.
Over the last five games, they've experienced a modest surge in power:
Games R/G HR/G XBH/G AVG SLG
Previous 35 3.6 0.4 2.0 .239 .332
Last 4 5.0 1.0 3.3 .233 .369
SWISS ARMY JIM
Stone Crabs utility man Jim Haley picked up two more hits and two RBI Wednesday. The Penn State product is now 15-for-36 with three extra-base hits and nine RBI in his last nine games, raising his average from .250 to .292. On Monday, he became the first Stone Crabs player to occupy all nine spots in the batting order this year while also taking over the team lead in hitting.He's also played four different positions on defense.
PITCHING PROWESS
The biggest reason for Charlotte's improvement this year has been their pitching. Since April 16, the Stone Crabs have pitched to a 3.09 ERA (85 ER in 247.2 IP), going 17-11 while lowering their season mark from 4.23 to 3.43. Over the last 26 games, the starting rotation had combined to go 9-2 with a 2.44 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.
(114.1 IP, 90 H, 31 ER, 38 BB, 89 K)
INTO THE SHARK TANK!
The Stone Crabs will take on the Clearwater Threshers for the first time this weekend. Unlike past Threshers teams, the 2019 club specializing in hitting. Clearwater ranks second in the FSL in batting average, slugging and OPS, while placing in the bottom half of the league in pitching. The Threshers possess seven of the top 20 Phillies prospects according to MLB Pipleine:
(No. 1) 3B Alec Bohm (No. 54 overall), (11) OF Jhailyn Ortiz, (12) OF Simon Muzziotti, (14) C Rafael Marchan, (18) SS Nick Maton, (19) C Rodolfo Duran, (20) 2B Daniel Brito
OUT WHIT-TING THE LEAGUE
After a very slow start to the season, outfielder Garrett Whitley has been one of the Stone Crabs' best hitters since:
Games H-AB XBH RBI K% OPS
First 10 3-31 1 1 51.2 .436
Last 24 21-75 11 14 34.7 .889
COMEBACK CRABS
Leads have not been safe in Stone Crabs games this season. Monday marked the 12th comeback win for Charlotte, meaning they've held the lead from wire-to-wire only eight times all season. The team that scores first is just 20-20 in Charlotte games this year.
UNCLUTCH CRABS
Despite a recent improvement in the past couple of weeks, the Stone Crabs have struggled in clutch situations this year. For the season, they are hitting .220/.301/.327 with runners on base and .218/.296/.318 with runners in scoring position, well below their season slash line of .240/.311/.340.
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Florida State League Stories from May 17, 2019
- Jupiter Crashes Coquis Comeback, 8-6 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Daytona Takes Seesaw Opener as Tampa Drops Fifth-Straight - Tampa Tarpons
- Early Deficit Too Much for Threshers against Stone Crabs - Clearwater Threshers
- Late Outburst Pushes Tortugas to Win, 8-6 - Daytona Tortugas
- Dunedin's Offense Held in Check in 3-1 Loss to Lakeland - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Mets Clip Miracle 2-1 in 10 Innings - St. Lucie Mets
- Stone Crabs Power Past Clearwater 12-4 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Watson Wows, But Miracle Falter In Extra Innings - Fort Myers Miracle
- Dunedin Opens a Four Game Series with Lakeland - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Stone Crabs Game Notes - Fri, May 17 at Clearwater - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Threshers Rally for Walk-Off on Thursday - Clearwater Threshers
- Diaz Launches Three Home Runs In 13-7 Win - Fort Myers Miracle
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