FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs Hang on for 5-3 Win

Published on April 17, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


JUPITER, FL (April 17, 2014) - The Stone Crabs left Port Charlotte early Thursday morning with a bitter taste in their mouths following Wednesday afternoon's loss to the Miracle. With an opportunity to close out the homestand 4-2, the team embarked on its first non-commuter roadtrip at 4-9 after the bullpen couldn't put away a 6-4 lead. If Bruedlin Suero's second start was any indication, "Doc" Watson has now seen his starters turn in three consecutive strong appearances as the Stone Crabs gutted out a 5-3 victory at Roger Dean Stadium over the Cardinals.

Suero's (1-1) first start just eight days earlier in Fort Myers was anything but pretty as he departed after an inning and two thirds, having allowed six runs on five hits. But against the Cardinals, the tall lefty was in control early and perfect the first time through the order. He received a little help in the top of the third after left fielder Josh Sale battled Joe Cuda for a leadoff walk. After a couple of groundouts moved him to second, Leonardo Reginatto broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single that glanced off the mitt of shortstop Alex Mejia.

Charlotte attacked once again in the fourth, less than a week after roughing up Cuda for six runs on 10 hits in the opening game of their first series. Patrick Leonard and Kes Carter opened the frame with singles to put a pair of runners on for Justin O'Conner. After grounding out to second in his first at bat, the catcher stroked an RBI double down the right field line beyond the reach of a diving Starlin Rodriguez for a 2-0 lead. Two batters later with Carter at third, Sale brought him in with an RBI groundout to make it 3-0.

The Cardinals had a much easier time in the fourth after leadoff batter Charlie Tilson reached on an infield single. On a 3-2 pitch to Matt Williams, Tilson was on the move and O'Conner threw to second from behind the plate to try and pick up the first out. The ball skipped into center field, allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Breyvic Valera made it 3-1 with an RBI groundout before Jacob Wilson's scoring fly ball to right added another run. Rodriguez continued the inning with a double that bounced over the left field wall before Anthony Garcia tied the game with a double of his own to deep left.

Andrew Toles led off the fifth for the Stone Crabs with a single before advancing to second on Reginatto's groundout. The two out scoring continued after Leonard's RBI single and Carter's double added a pair of runs for a 5-3 lead. For the rest of the night, Kevin Brandt and Parker Markel were unflappable despite running into some trouble.

Back for his second inning of relief in the seventh, Brandt put the tying runs on base after a one out single by Tilson and a walk to Williams. But he got a nifty inning-ending double play up the middle started by the shortstop Reginatto to get out of it. Markel then came on for his second save in the ninth and surrendered a one out single to Mejia. With two outs, he came up and in on Williams and plunked him with a fastball to once again put the tying runs on base. Valera got another chance to make something happen after hitting into the double play in the seventh, but he flew out to center to end the game.

NOTES: The Stone Crabs sent the Cardinals to their fifth loss in a row, and sixth in the last sevenReginatto had his second three hit game after hitting a two out double in the ninthBrandt has not allowed a single run in 9.2 inningsCarter had his third multi-hit game in a rowthe top seven hitters in the order finished with a base hitthe offense has now scored 11 runs on 18 hits in 7.2 innings of Cuda's (0-2) two starts.

The Stone Crabs will look to win two straight games for the first time on Friday night at 6:35 PM in the second game of this three-game series . Austin Pruitt (0-1, 7.88 ERA) will try and earn his first win against lefty Kyle Hald (2-0, 2.13 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 6:15 PM on the Stone Crabs Radio Network!

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Florida State League Stories from April 17, 2014


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