Stone Crabs duplicate 2-1 win over Tigers

LAKELAND, Fla. (April 26, 2019) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs' pitching staff turned in another gem Friday, as four different pitchers struck out 11 batters to notch their second straight 2-1 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Publix Field.
Stone Crabs (9-13) righties Jhonleider Salinas (1-2) and Jack Labosky both went three scoreless innings and struck out three to hold the lead. Simon Rosenblum-Larson struck out the side in the ninth to earn his second save.
Charlotte pounded out nine hits in the win, including two knocks each from Thomas Milone , Carl Chester and Jim Haley .
In a scoreless game in the top of the first, Milone ripped a single into right. With two outs, Haley dropped a double into left center, allowing Milone to score to give the Crabs a 1-0 lead.
Still up by one in the bottom of the second, Lakeland (9-11) first baseman Reynaldo Rivera doubled to right before Zac Shepherd lined a two-bagger to the gap to tie the game at one.
With the game tied in the top of the third, Milone rocketed a double to the wall in right before Zach Rutherford walked. The next batter was Chester, who stroked a single to center to score Milone and give the Stone Crabs a 2-1 lead.
The Stone Crabs threatened to extend the lead, putting men on base in every other inning. However, they finished 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.
Chester is now 9-for-16 with four extra-base hits, 5 RBI and one walk over his last four games. Friday's win marks the first three-game winnings streak of the year for the Stone Crabs.
Charlotte will look to claim the series at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Brian Shaffer (0-0, 1.23) is scheduled to start for the Stone Crabs, against Tarik Skubal (1-2, 3.57) of Lakeland. Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.