DeSclafani, Ozuna Lead Hammerheads to Win

JUPITER, Fla. - On a night when Minor League Baseball's President and CEO, Pat O'Conner, was at the ballpark to present Marcell Ozuna with his 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award, the Hammerheads' right fielder collected two hits in Jupiter's 5-0 win over the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

Ozuna, who set the Hammerheads' single-season records in home runs (24) and RBI (95) last season, singled on a line drive to right field in his first at-bat. He advanced to second on a fielder's choice before stealing third and crossing home plate on a throwing error by Stone Crabs' catcher Curt Casali.

In the bottom of the seventh, Ozuna doubled home Ryan Rieger, but was tagged out as a Charlotte fielder beat him in a race to the bag at third. 

RHP Anthony DeSclafani rebounded nicely from his last start, pitching five shutout innings while allowing just three this and one walk. Thirteen of the 15 outs he induced were either by strikeout (seven) or ground out (six). The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder threw his fastball consistently at 92 mph.

DeSclafani's five shutout innings marked the fourth time in the last five games that a Hammerheads' starting pitcher hasn't allowed an earned run. In 14 games this season, six starters  (Justin Nicolino, Josh Hodges, DeSclafani, Jacob Esch, Jose Urena and Jay Rogers) have combined to post a 2.13 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP in 63.1 innings.

Wilfredo Gimenez and Rieger also made significant contributions in the win. Gimenez went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI double to center in the Hammerheads' three-run second inning. Rieger extended his hitting streak to five games with a line drive single to center in the seventh inning. The Hammerheads left fielder now has a hit in 11 of 13 games.

The Hammerheads will enter Friday night's matchup with the Stone Crabs having won four of six after starting the season 0-8. RHP Jacob Esch-who tossed five shutout innings in his last start-will oppose Charlotte's LHP Ryan Carpenter.

For more information on the Jupiter Hammerheads, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins, please call (561) 775-1818 or visit JupiterHammerheads.com. For tickets and more information about Roger Dean Stadium, visit RogerDeanStadium.com