PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (July 13, 2017) - Jake Cronenworth's four RBIs wasn't enough as the Fort Myers Miracle swept the Charlotte Stone Crabs in Thursday's doubleheader at Charlotte Sports Park.Cronenworth clubbed a two-run double in each game, but Charlotte (39-47, 8-10) fell by scores of 4-3 and 5-3.In the fourth
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (July 13, 2017) - Jake Cronenworth's four RBIs wasn't enough as the Fort Myers Miracle swept the Charlotte Stone Crabs in Thursday's doubleheader at Charlotte Sports Park.
Cronenworth clubbed a two-run double in each game, but Charlotte (39-47, 8-10) fell by scores of 4-3 and 5-3.
In the fourth inning of a scoreless contest in Game 2, Fort Myers (48-39, 15-4) first baseman Mitchell Kranson walked before Zander Wiel reached on an error. Jaylin Davis followed by grounding a two-run triple to the right field corner to give the Miracle a 2-0 lead. Shane Kennedy then flew out to deep right, scoring Davis to make it 3-0. After a single chased Stone Crabs starter Brock Burke (0-3) from the game, Brandon Lawson allowed a single to Sean Miller and a triple to Tanner English, which extended the Fort Myers lead to 5-0.
Charlotte battled back with a leadoff double from Ryan Boldt to start the bottom of the fifth. After two strikeouts, Nate Lowe lined a base hit to right to score Boldt and make the score 5-1. Thomas Milone then singled ahead of Cronenworth, who picked up his second two-run double of the night to cap the scoring at 5-3.
The Stone Crabs got the tying run on base in the sixth, but couldn't get the big hit.
Miracle starter Brady Anderson (4-4) went five innings of three-run ball to get the win.
In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Stone Crabs starter Burch Smith turned in 4.2 innings of one-run baseball, striking out two and allowing only one hit.
With the game scoreless in the bottom of the third, the Stone Crabs mounted a two-out rally. Peter Maris and Angel Moreno both singled to put runners at first and second. Cronenworth followed with a two-run double to left to give Charlotte a 2-0 lead. Brandon Lowe then lined a single to left to plate Cronenworth and give the Stone Crabs a 3-0 advantage.
With the same score in the top of the fourth, Fort Myers center fielder Tanner English walked before Brandon Lopez doubled to the wall in left to score English and make the score 3-1.
With Charlotte still leading 3-1 in the top of the sixth, English and Lopez both singled against Stone Crabs reliever Spencer Jones . After the runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, Jones got a groundout to keep them there. Charlotte then brought in Drew Smith (1-2), who promptly allowed a two-run double to Mitchell Kranson, which tied the game at three. After a lineout, Jaylin Davis singled on a chopper up the middle to give Fort Myers a 4-3 lead.
The Stone Crabs have now lost six straight games to Fort Myers, including three straight doubleheaders.
Charlotte will look to salvage the series finale Friday night at 6:35 p.m. Eduar Lopez (6-7, 4.59) makes the start for the Stone Crabs against David Fischer (4-6, 3.72) of the Miracle. Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.
