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FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs Win Roller Coaster 8-7

June 12, 2014 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


FORT MYERS, FL - For all the aches and pains, heartaches and groans, the Stone Crabs still have an opportunity to finish the first half with a .500 record. Coming off two disappointing losses to the Miracle that extended their losing streak to four games, this team fought hard in the final game before the All-Star Break. Despite wasting three separate leads in the first six innings, the Stone Crabs were the superior team for the first time in the series and outlasted the Miracle 7-6 in an 11-inning battle for the ages on Thursday night.

The first lead came in the top of the second after Justin O'Conner hit his first triple of the year into the gap in right center. Two batters later, Luke Bailey's return to the `Crabs started with an RBI single into left that made it 1-0. Josh Sale's grounder to short was jostled by Jorge Polanco for an error to continue the inning for Julian Ridings, whose first major contribution was an RBI double for a 2-0 lead.

Right away, the Miracle countered with an RBI triple in the second from Tyler Grimes, who scored Travis Harrison after a fielding error by Leonardo Reginatto at short to open the inning. Polanco got even with an RBI groundout to second to tie the score at two, but that wouldn't last very long. In the fourth, a two out single by Bailey allowed Sale to rock an RBI double to break the tie. Reinaldo Lopez' final inning in the fourth ended in disastrous fashion after singles by Harrison and Dalton Hicks to open the frame. It only got worse after the righty raced in to field a sacrifice bunt off the bat off Stuart Turner, only to throw it away down the left field for both runners to score and put the Miracle back in front 4-3.

Bailey's magical night continued in the sixth when he took the first pitch from Miracle starter Matt Tomshaw out the opposite way for a two-run homer to right and a 5-4 lead. Once again, the Miracle took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning off Bruedlin Suero thanks to a pair of RBI singles from Aderling Mejia and Stephen Wickens. Still protecting a 6-5 lead in the ninth, Miracle lefty Mason Melotakis watched the whole evening change when he hung a 1-0 pitch to Ridings, who tied the score with a home run inside the right field foul pole.

Later in the 11th, Tyler Goeddel picked up his second hit with a one out single into center off Brandon Peterson. Next up was Tommy Coyle, who crushed a triple to score Goeddel and give the Stone Crabs their fourth lead at 7-6. An RBI single by Reginatto made it 8-6, and set the stage for a very tense bottom of the 11th. Going for his third save in four tries, Ryan Garton fanned Grimes for the first out. But a pair of walks to Polanco and Mejia put the tying runs on base for Wickens, who bounced into a fielder's choice groundout at third. With two outs and runners at the corners, Adam Brett Walker poked an RBI single into right center to make it 8-7 and leave Wickens as the tying run at third. Garton ran the count full, but buckled down and got Mike Gonzales to chase a fastball out of the zone to end the game and allow the `Crabs to breathe a sigh of relief.

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