Jefferies, Moore lead Charlotte to win

TAMPA -- Facing elimination in Game 3 of the Florida State League Championship Series, the Charlotte Stone Crabs pulled out the late inning heroics.

Jake Jefferies drove in the go-ahead run with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to give the Stone Crabs a 2-1 victory on Sunday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Matt Moore tossed six innings of one-run ball and Charlotte's offense was able to provide just enough run support to back that strong start along with scoreless relief by Neil Schenk and Zach Quate.

Matt Hall gave the Stone Crabs their first lead of the series with a two-out, run-scoring double in the second inning to make it a 1-0 game. That run also marked the first time in Tampa's five postseason contests that they have trailed in a game.

The outing from Moore was exactly the kind of performance that the Stone Crabs were seeking from a starting pitcher, having seen both their Game 1 and Game 2 starters depart trailing in the early innings.

Moore went six innings and surrendered one run on just four hits, walked four and struck out 10 men.

Seeking to make a perfect run through the playoffs, the Yankees received a strong start of their own from Shaeffer Hall. The lefty went seven innings and surrendered just one run while allowing just three hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Tampa's lone run of the night came amidst a brief wild streak for the Charlotte starter. Moore yielded a pair of singles in the fifth inning, but it would prove to be consecutive two-out wild pitches that would allow the Yankees to tie the game.

Jose Pirela and Myron Leslie moved into scoring position on the first wild pitch, and Pirela raced home with the game-tying run when the next pitch bounced away from Charlotte catcher Stephen Vogt.

Having scraped and scrounged for runs throughout the series, the Stone Crabs ninth inning truly came from humble beginnings. Greg Sexton's roller to the right side hit the first base bag and took a Charlotte bounce into shallow right field, allowing him to make it to second with a lead-off double.

After Mike Sheridan sacrificed Sexton over to third with just one away in the ninth, Jefferies came off the bench withe game tied 1-1 and lifted a fly ball to deep left center that brought in Sexton with the eventual winning run.

Schenk (1-0) worked a pair of blank frames after Moore and picked up the victory and bridge the gap to Quate, who slammed the door in the ninth for his second save of the postseason.

Preston Claiborne (0-1) took the loss in relief, allowing a run on four hits over two innings.

The Championship Series continues on Monday as the Stone Crabs send FSL wins-leader Joe Cruz to the mound for his second starting assignment of the playoffs. Tampa will counter with righty Craig Heyer. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.