Homers push Stone Crabs past Dunedin 6-4

DUNEDIN, Fla. (June 14, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs used three solo homers to beat the Dunedin Blue Jays 6-4 Thursday, claiming the four-game series at Dunedin Stadium.
The Stone Crabs' (31-32) bullpen went six innings in the win, allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out five. Right-hander J.D. Busfield (2-3) went three innings to get the victory, ceding just one hit.
With the game scoreless in the bottom of the second, Blue Jays (27-37) outfielder Eduard Pinto tripled with one out before coming home on a wild pitch to make it 1-0 Blue Jays. Rodrigo Orozco then reached on an infield single before Josh Palacios and Logan Warmoth both came through with hits to plate Orozco and make it 2-0 Dunedin.
Down two in the top of the third, Charlotte catcher Zac Law led off the inning with a solo home run to left to cut the deficit to 2-1. With two outs, Tristan Gray singled before a walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Jermaine Palacios then worked a nine pitch at bat before pulling a double down the third base line to give the Stone Crabs a 3-2 lead.
After Charlotte added a run on a Josh Lowe solo home run in the top of the fourth, Dunedin second baseman Kevin Smith went the other way for a homer to bring the Jays to within 4-3.
With the Stone Crabs up one in the top of the fifth, Gray launched a long home run to right to extend the Charlotte lead to 5-3.
Still leading by two in the top of the seventh, Lucius Fox reached on an infield single before Gray pulled a hit to right to chase Fox to third. Robbie Tenerowicz followed by flying out to deep left to score Fox and make it 6-3.
The Stone Crabs allowed a run in the seventh, but Ivan Pelaez bounced back by striking out two in 1-2-3 eight. Brandon Koch worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his fifth save.
The Stone Crabs head into the All-Star Break with a chance to finish the first half with a winning record. They'll host the Lakeland Flying Tigers for a four-game series to close out the half beginning at 6:35 p.m. on Monday. Coverage starts at 6:20 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.