After a see-saw battle that included four lead changes, Charlotte finally took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh inning when Reid Fronk was plunked in the back with the bases loaded. That marks the second game this season that the Stone Crabs have scored the winning run on a hit batsman after Nevin Ashley not-so-dramatically took one to the knee in the bottom of the ninth inning on April 26. Wrigley continues to swing a hot bat for Charlotte with a 3-for-4 night that included his fourth home run of the season. He has now collected hits in 14 of his last 16 contests and is batting .375 (24-for-64) during that span. Emeel Salem joined him as one of only two other Stone Crabs players with a hit after going 3-for-4. Charlotte starter Brian Flores gave up four runs in five innings but did not factor in his second consecutive spot start for the Crabs. He filled in for Alex Cobb who was scratched because of blisters on his throwing hand. The Stone Crabs scored their runs early with four runs in the first three innings. Salem was the catalyst as he singled in his first two at bats, which led to him scoring a run, picking up a pair of RBIs and swiping two stolen bases. Wrigley also knocked a run-scoring single in the first inning and then crushed a 1-0 offering from Reds reliever Steven Otterness over the left field wall in the bottom of the third inning. Sarasota kept up though with run-scoring innings in the first, third, fifth and sixth frames. They took the lead in the top of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Jose Gualdron that scored Devin Mesoraco who doubled to leadoff the inning off Charlotte reliever Justin Garcia. Garcia (6-2) pitched two more innings and didn't give up another run to pick up his sixth win of the season for Charlotte while Austin Hinkle converted his sixth save with a perfect ninth inning to close out the game. The teams wrap up the series and the Stone Crabs current homestand with a 7:05 p.m. game tomorrow at Charlotte Sports Park. Righty Jesse Darcy (2-7, 6.01) takes the ball for Charlotte against fellow right-hander Scott Carroll (1-2, 4.43) for Sarasota. Tuesday's promotion is Seniors Eat Free Tuesdays where all fans 55 and older receive a voucher for a hot dog, bag of chips and soft drink with the purchase of a game ticket. |
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