KISSIMMEE, FLA.: The Charlotte Stone Crabs absorbed a long ball from Drew Lugbauer and impressive pitching performances from RHP Nolan Kingham and the bullpen to lock up their eighth consecutive victory, 2-1, over the Florida Fire Frogs on Wednesday at Osceola County Stadium.
KISSIMMEE, FLA.: The Charlotte Stone Crabs absorbed a long ball from Drew Lugbauer and impressive pitching performances from RHP Nolan Kingham and the bullpen to lock up their eighth consecutive victory, 2-1, over the Florida Fire Frogs on Wednesday at Osceola County Stadium.
Charlotte grabbed the first tally for the third straight game, able to capitalize on singles from Wander Franco and Ronaldo Hernandez in the first. Jim Haley plated Franco by beating out a double play ball for a 1-0 Stone Crabs edge.
Hernandez recorded his second multi-hit game of the series, going 2-4 and climbing aboard three times.
Michael Smith singled in Jake Palomaki in the fifth inning for a 2-0 Stone Crabs advantage.
That was all Kingham (4-7) would surrender in what was another masterful outing. He gave up two earned runs and seven hits with five strikeouts over seven frames while receiving the tough-luck loss.
RHP Sean McLaughlin and RHP Brandon White turned in 1-2-3 stanzas in the eighth and ninth out of the Fire Frogs bullpen to keep the game close.
LHP Trey Cumbie looked solid on a pitch count, working his way through 2 and 1/3 scoreless one-hit innings before being replaced by RHP Tommy Romero.
Drew Lugbauer kept raking, swatting his fourth home run in his last seven assignments in the seventh, a solo blast to right, to cut into Charlotte's lead, 2-1. With the long ball, he extended his hitting streak to four and his on-base stretch to nine.
Andrew Moritz has reached in seven consecutive games now, notching his second multi-hit effort of the series by going 2-4 at the dish.
Romero (8-2) yielded three hits and a run and mixed in seven punchouts in 5 and 2/3's stanzas on the mound. RHP Chandler Raiden slammed the door on the Frogs to earn his seventh save, spinning a perfect ninth.
NEXT UP: RHP Brooks Wilson (1-1, 1.56) hopes to be the stopper and continue his string of impressive outings against Charlotte's LHP Michael Plassmeyer (3-2, 2.38). First pitch at the Pond is set for noon.
About the Florida Fire Frogs
The Florida Fire Frogs are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and compete in the Florida State League. The Fire Frogs play their home games at Osceola County Stadium, located at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. For more information, please visit www.FloridaFireFrogs.com, and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
