Price, Hahn star in doubleheader split
BRADENTON-- All eyes were on McKechnie Field Friday night as David Price made his long-anticipated rehab start with the Charlotte Stone Crabs in game one of a doubleheader against the Bradenton Marauders. Price's prescence gave Charlotte the rare opportunity to start the second half of the season with a reigning AL Cy Young Award winner on the rubber. While Price only worked 2.1 innings for the Stone Crabs in a 4-3 game one loss, Charlotte bounced back to take game two in convincing fashion; 4-0.
A solid crowd, along with a bevy of media members, were on hand for game one to watch Price make his return to the mound after being placed on the disabled list back on May 16. Price struck out the first batter he faced, the 2013 Florida State League All-Star Game MVP Alen Hanson, before allowing back-to-back walks. Price worked out of the jam however, striking out the next two to get out of the inning.
Overall, Price allowed two runs (one earned) in his 2.1 innings of work. Entering the game, Price had a three inning, or 45 pitch limit (whichever came first). His day ended after 49 pitches with two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.
"I felt good, definitely felt like I had more in my tank that I could've used," Price said after the game. "I'm just doing with what I have right now, that was good enought for me. I felt good; I felt like I could throw better."
"I feel better; absolutely," Price later added.
The game continued with Eliazer Suero on the mound for Charlotte. After the Stone Crabs had grabbed a 3-1 lead on a three-run third inning, Suero allowed a an inherited runner to score in the third and his own run in the fifth to tie up the game.
A two-hour rain delay seperated the fifth inning from the sixth in game one. Once the game resumed, Charlotte's Nate Garcia allowed an RBI single to Henson in the bottom of the sixth to grab a 4-3 lead. Henson finished game one 3-4 with two runs, one RBI, and one stolen base.
That lead held true as Bradenton took game one 4-3. Game two, however, offered a different tone for the Stone Crabs.
Jesse Hahn, not to be outdone by Price in game one, tossed a gem for Charlotte in game two to earn his first win of the season. Hahn worked five shutout innings, his longest outing of the year, and allowed only two hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Hahn's outing lowered his already-low ERA to an impressive 1.10.
Hahn went toe-to-toe with Robby Rowland to begin a pitchers duel for game two. Rowland was equally impressive early on, as he retired the first nine Stone Crabs batters in order. Unfortunately for Rowland, however, his second time through the lineup was not as kind.
Charlotte put up three runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run triple from Drew Vettleson. Richie Shaffer then brought Vettleson home with a sacrifice fly to put Charlotte on top 3-0.
Vettleson finished the doubleheader 2-5 with three RBI. Shaffer had two RBI in the doubleheader as well, to tie him with Vettleson and Hector Guevara for the team lead in RBI.
After a Taylor Motter RBI triple in the fifth to complete the scoring, Shay Crawford finished the game for Charlotte with two scoreless innings of relief.
The shutout for Charlotte is it's fourth of the year.
The Stone Crabs (1-1, 30-39) travel up to Bradenton tomorrow to finish off a three game set with the Marauders (1-1, 27-43) at McKechnie Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.