Crabs Destroy Sharks, Sweep Into First

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - The Charlotte Stone Crabs were hoping for at least two out of three from the Jupiter Hammerheads this week. They'll take a sweep.

The Stone Crabs pummeled the Hammerheads from the start, scoring five runs in the first, and Charlotte pitching took a perfect game into the sixth en route to a 9-4 victory on Thursday night at Charlotte Sports Park.

With the series sweep, the Stone Crabs pulled even with the Hammerheads in the FSL South second half standings. Thanks to a Fort Myers win in St. Lucie, Charlotte is now tied for first place in the division and would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today thanks to a head-to-head tiebreaker over Jupiter.

The Stone Crab offense exploded out of the gate. Andrew Velazquez tripled to lead off the bottom of the first against Jeff Brigham, and rehabbing outfielder Oswaldo Arcia followed by launching a two-run home run to right to give Charlotte a quick 2-0 lead. Two pitches later, Grant Kay smacked a one-hopper to the left field corner for a ground rule double, giving the Stone Crabs three extra-base hits on the first five pitches of the game.

Brigham (5-7) didn't get any help after that, either. Justin Bohn botched a grounder from Cristian Toribio with one out, scoring Kay from third and putting another runner on board. Brigham got the second out but walked Riley Unroe, and Jace Conrad cleared the bases with a two-run triple to make it 5-0. Arcia's second home run in the second inning put the cherry on top.

That was more than enough for Stone Crabs pitching, which until the ninth had perhaps its best night of the year. Enny Romero tossed a perfect rehab inning, and Mike Franco entered to utterly dominate, allowing just one hit in five innings while fanning four.

Franco (7-4) took a perfect game into the sixth, when Brian Schales singled to right-center with two out. Franco quickly forced a groundout to get out of the inning. Jose Alvarado then struck out a season-high five in two perfect frames.

Just for fun, Charlotte brought a parade of offense in the eighth against the struggling Jose Adames, who entered the game with a 5.51 ERA and left with one much higher. Kay tripled to lead off the inning, marking the first three-triple game for Charlotte this year, and scored on a Toribio sac fly. After Adames loaded the bases with two outs, Jonah Heim and Velazquez hit back-to-back RBI singles to make it 9-0.

The four Jupiter runs all came with two out in the ninth, as new signee Alex Smith had a brutal inning, allowing three hits and two walks and capping it with a grand slam to Taylor Ard. Nick Sawyer entered to strike out Avery Romero and lock down the win.

The first-place Stone Crabs take on the first-half champion Bradenton Marauders in a potential playoff preview, with a three-game set beginning Friday night at Charlotte Sports Park. RHP Chris Pike (4-9, 3.89) takes the ball for Charlotte against Bradenton LHP Stephen Tarpley (5-3, 4.60). First pitch is set for 6:35.