Hammerheads pinched by Stone Crabs in series closer

Despite a ninth-inning rally, the Jupiter Hammerheads lost the third and final game to the Stone Crabs on Wednesday night, 4-1.
Braxton Garrett pitched five innings to start the game. The lefty got off to a rough start, with the first two batters hitting a single and homerun to put the Stone Crabs up 2-0, but those two at-bats accounted for his only two earned runs and half of his hits over the night.
Even though he was credited the loss, Garrett finished his five innings with a solid four hits, four runs (two unearned) and two walks. Most notably, he recorded a career and season-high eight strikeouts.
The Stone Crabs' two unearned runs in the top of the 4th put them up 4-0, then the Hammerheads responded in the bottom with one run off a sac fly by Connor Grant.
Colton Hock had a much better outing than his performance two nights ago. He pitched two shutout innings with just two hits, no runs, no walks and four strikeouts. Chad Smith closed the game without letting the Stone Crabs advance their lead, setting the Hammerheads up for a potential comeback in the ninth.
With a three-run deficit, a walk and singles from Nick Fortes and pinch hitter Riley Mahan loaded up the bases with the winning runner at bat and one out, but a strikeout and pop fly finished the game.
Offensively, Jupiter outhit Charlotte 9-7, with doubles from Grant and Soto and two hits from Fortes. They just couldn't convert those into enough runs, leaving nine on base total and giving the Crabs the win. 
Thursday night, the Hammerheads start a four-game series at home against the Clearwater Threshers at 6:30pm at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. For tickets, visit jupiterhammerheads.com/tickets.