Stone Crabs suffer worst loss in franchise history Friday

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (May 26, 2017) - Brandon Lowe picked up his team-leading fifth home run but the Fort Myers Miracle handed the Charlotte Stone Crabs their worst loss in franchise history Friday at Charlotte Sports Park.
The Stone Crabs (21-25) set franchise records for most runs allowed (17) and largest margin of defeat (16). The only other game in which Charlotte has allowed more than 13 runs in a contest came on July 16, 2010, when the Stone Crabs lost 15-7 at Brevard County. The Stone Crabs franchise began in 2009.
Charlotte also set season-highs in hits allowed (16) and time of game (3:22).
With the game scoreless in the top of the third, Stone Crabs starter Taylor Hawkins (1-3) hit Chris Paul before walking Alex Perez. Two batters later, Rafael Valera walked to load the bases. Catcher Brian Navarreto followed with a two-run single to left to give Fort Myers a 2-0 lead. After Nelson Molina singled to load the bases, Max Murphy dropped a single into center to extend the Miracle lead to 4-0.
Shortstop Sean Miller followed with a single to plate Molina and make it 5-0. After a walk re-loaded the bases, Paul clobbered a ground-rule double to right center to bring the count to 7-0. Perez followed with a ground ball to second base that was muffed, allowing Strong to score to make it 8-0.
The eight-run inning was the largest the Stone Crabs have allowed this year.
Still leading 8-0 in the third, Molina reached on an infield single with one out before Murphy advanced him to second on a base hit. Miller then blooped a single to center to score Molina and make it 9-0. The Stone Crabs followed with another error to allow Bradley Strong to reach and Murphy to score, making the count 10-0. With runners at first and second and one out, Paul doubled to left to score Murphy and make it 11-0. Alex Perez followed with a single to center that plated a pair to make the score 13-0 Miracle after three.
The Miracle tacked on three more in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run homer by Tanner English. They scored one in the ninth on four walks.
Fort Myers starter Dereck Rodríguez (3-2) worked five innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits while fanning four.
The Stone Crabs will look to even the series with the Miracle Saturday at 6:05 p.m. Roel Ramirez (1-0, 3.60) makes the start for Charlotte against Randy LeBlanc (2-0, 0.43) of Fort Myers. Coverage begins at 5:50 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.