Tarpons turn tides in 6-5 defeat

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (June 30, 2018) - After the Charlotte Stone Crabs erased a two-run deficit in the eighth, the Tampa Tarpons scored twice in the ninth to win 6-5 at Charlotte Sports Park Saturday.
With the Stone Crabs (37-39, 3-6) leading 5-4 entering the top of the ninth, the Tarpons (40-39, 5-4) used an error and two walks to load the bases with one out against Charlotte reliever Hunter Schryver (0-1). After Zack Mozingo entered the game and got the second out, Alexander Palma grounded a single into right to score two runs and give the Tarpons a 6-5 lead.
The Stone Crabs had entered the bottom of the eight trailing 4-2. With two outs and nobody on, Jesús Sánchez reached on an error before Kevin Padlo walked. Josh Lowe then lined a double to left to score both runners and tie the game at four. After two walks advanced Lowe to third, Matt Wivinis (1-1) issued a wild pitch, allowing Lowe to score the go-ahead run and give Charlotte their 5-4 lead.
Wivinis bounced back to work a scoreless ninth and notch the win.
Stone Crabs left-hander Brock Burke logged six innings of one-run ball to keep his team close. Burke allowed one unearned run on three hits while fanning six and walking two.
Charlotte scored their first run on back-to-back doubles by Lucius Fox and Tristan Gray in the third before Fox scored again on a wild pitch in the fifth.
The Stone Crabs and Tarpons will meet at 12:35 p.m. on Sunday for the rubber game of the series. Riley O'Brien (0-1, 40.50) makes the start for Charlotte against Nick Nelson (3-2, 3.67) of Tampa. Coverage begins at 12:20 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.