Stone Crabs squeak out split with Threshers

CLEARWATER, Fla. (August 26, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs squeaked out the second game of Sunday's doubleheader at Spectrum Field, beating Clearwater 3-2 in extra innings to split the twin bill.
In a 2-2 game in the top of the ninth inning of Game 2, Stone Crabs' (70-58, 36-25) automatic runner Jake Fraley advanced to third base on a balk with nobody out. After a strikeout, Eleardo Cabrera worked an 11-pitch at bat, prolonging it long enough for Fraley to score on a wild pitch and give Charlotte a 3-2 lead.
Stone Crabs reliever Trevor Charpie (4-1) went two innings without allowing an earned run to get the win. Charlotte took the lead in the top of the eighth on a Carl Chester sacrifice fly. Trying to close it out up 2-1 with a man on second for Clearwater (72-58, 40-22), Charpie allowed a two-out single to Kyle Martin which plated the tying run on a very close play at home plate.
The Stone Crabs got the scoring going in the top of the first of Game 2. After Vidal Brujan and Tristan Gray both singled, Chester delivered a base hit up the middle to make it 1-0. The Threshers responded in the bottom of the fourth against Charlotte starter Brendan McKay . After loading the bases on three singles, Daniel Brito drove home Grenny Cumana to make it 1-1.
McKay went four innings in the win, allowing seven hits while fanning three.
The victory pulls the Stone Crabs 1.5 games ahead of the Fort Myers Miracle for the second half title in the Florida State League South with eight contests remaining.
The Stone Crabs lost Game 1 of the doubleheader 3-2 on a Martin walk-off single. Charlotte started that game with first inning home runs from Fraley and Brujan. However, the Crabs couldn't figure out Clearwater starter Mauricio Llovera (7-7), who struck out 11 over seven innings of four-hit ball.
Charlotte will begin their final homestand of the year at 6:35 p.m. on Monday against the Daytona Tortugas. Kenny Rosenberg (9-2, 4.99) makes the start for the Stone Crabs against Andrew Jordan (1-6, 8.45) of Daytona. Coverage starts at 6:20 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.