Rally Falls Short for 'Crabs

June 12, 2014 - Florida State League (FSL) Charlotte Stone Crabs FORT MYERS, FL (June 11, 2014) - With no chance at winning the first half in the Florida State League's South Division, the Stone Crabs can strictly focus on player development before the second half begins next week. Wins and losses will be reset soon enough, so any victory is just an added bonus while Jared Sandberg and his staff can assess the present team as it is presently constructed. One night after getting shellacked by the Miracle 10-0 for their third straight defeat, the Stone Crabs nearly pulled off the comeback of the season in the second game of the series. However, four runs in the ninth wasn't enough, and a 7-6 loss sent the `Crabs to four games under .500 for the first time since April 28.

Hammond Stadium was playing like a bandbox on Wednesday night, and the hitters took advantage of the favorable wind blowing out right away. Austin Pruitt surrendered a one out double to Travis Harrison in the second before Stuart Turner banged a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left to put the Miracle ahead 2-0. After picking up just two measly singles in the first three innings against All-Star Jose Berrios, the Stone Crabs tied it up in the fourth. A leadoff walk to Leonardo Reginatto and strikeouts by Patrick Leonard and Kes Carter allowed Maxx Tissenbaum to crush his first home run of the year to right to tie the game at two.

The Miracle countered with a quick punch in the home fourth following Adam Brett Walker's leadoff single. Two pitches later it was designated hitter Mike Gonzales, who hit a moonshot deep to right for another two run blast and a 4-2 Miracle lead. Pruitt lasted five innings and didn't allow another run the rest of the night, and Kevin Brandt delivered two perfect frames in the sixth and seventh while racking up four strikeouts along the way.

Facing Nick Sawyer in the eighth, the Miracle didn't need to do much with the bats to add to the 4-2 lead. Three walks and a sacrifice bunt by Aderling Mejia loaded the bases with one out for Gonzales, who worked a walk for his third run batted in and a 5-2 lead. Four more pitches out of the zone to Harrison scored another run to make it 6-2 before Ryan Garton entered from the bullpen to get the final two outs, including an RBI groundout by Dalton Hicks that made it 7-2 heading into the ninth.

Leonard started the inning with a routine groundball to shortstop Jorge Polanco, who booted it for an error. A line single by Carter and a groundout to first by Tissenbaum put runners at second and third with one out. Jonathan Quionez then placed an infield single on the grass in front of first, and they were loaded up for Josh Sale. An RBI fielder's choice groundout brought in Leonard to make it 7-3 before Sale took second base on defensive indifference. A walk to Julian Ridings loaded the bases and allowed Tyler Goeddel to drive in a pair with a two run single underneath the glove of the second baseman Mejia. Representing the tying run, Goeddel stole second base, but Turner's throw from behind the plate skipped into center field, scoring Ridings to make it 7-6 and moving Goeddel to third as the tying run. Tyler Jones then put the positive feelings to rest by blowing a 2-2 fastball past Tommy Coyle to end the ballgame.

NOTES: The Stone Crabs are now 0-21 when trailing after the eighth inningall four runs in the ninth were unearned because of the Polanco errorPruitt (3-3) hadn't allowed a home run in his previous four starts, a span of 22.2 IPBrandt and Tissenbaum were both late additions to the South Division All-Star Teamthe `Crabs had just two baserunners from the fifth until the ninth, and neither runner advanced past firstthe loss marks just the third time in 11 games this month the Stone Crabs scored more than five runs.

The series wraps up at Hammond Stadium on Thursday night at 7:05 PM when Reinaldo Lopez (4-2, 3.39 ERA) looks to end the losing skid against Matt Tomshaw (6-1, 1.95 ERA). You can follow all the action by listening to the game on http://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 6:45 PM on the Stone Crabs Radio Network!

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Rally Falls Short for 'Crabs