Walks Get the Best of Wood

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - Hunter Wood might be channeling 2000s one-hit wonder Daniel Powter right about now: "Had a bad day."

Wood (1-1) probably didn't sing a sad song just to turn it around, but he did walk six and allow four runs in three-and-two-thirds innings as the Stone Crabs lost 4-2 to the Yankees in front of a strong 1,554 fans at Charlotte Sports Park on Monday night.

The otherwise stalwart Stone Crabs starter saw his command abandon him somewhere along Tamiami Trail, as he issued walks to three of the first four men to face him in the first. With the bases loaded, Austin Aune hit a soft grounder to first. Grant Kay fielded the ball cleanly, turned to second and saw he had no play, and went to flip to first. Wood, however, was slow to cover the bag, and everyone was safe. Wood then walked Mark Payton to bring in another run and make it 2-0 before a double play ended the inning.

The Stone Crabs made it a game, as they have so often over the past week. With runners on the corners in the first inning, Cristian Toribio attempted to steal second base. Yankee catcher Santiago Nessy's throw went into center, and Kay broke for the plate to cut the lead to 2-1. Nick Ciuffo led off the second with a sharp single up the middle, and Cade Gotta nearly parked a home run past the foul pole in left, doubling to the wall to put runners on second and third. Jace Conrad's slow grounder found its way into no-man's land in the infield, and Ciuffo scored to tie the game.

However, the lead was short-lived. Wood's control issues reared their head again in the third. With Abiatal Avelino on second and one out, Wood balked, pushing Avelino to third. Wood then threw a wild pitch ball four to Zack Zehner, scoring Avelino and putting the Yankees ahead 3-2. In the fourth, Wood allowed two hits, then walked Vicente Conde to load the bases. A sac fly from Avelino scored Nessy, and Wood was removed from the game.

Though Jeff Howell and Jordan Harrison pitched a solid five-and-a-third innings of scoreless relief, the final numbers were not pretty for Charlotte pitching. All in all, the Stone Crabs walked eleven Yankees, shattering their season high of four. Stone Crabs pitchers had walked 20 men total in their first eleven games of the year.

Charlotte embarks on a six-game road trip next, beginning Tuesday night in St. Lucie. RHP Benton Moss (0-1, 4.50) takes the bump for the Stone Crabs against Mets RHP Josh Prevost (1-0, 3.00). The Stone Crabs return home next Tuesday, April 26, starting a nine-game homestand. For tickets, call 941-206-HITS, visit stonecrabsbaseball.com, or head to the FCB Box Office.