Acosta's sac fly lifts Charlotte in extras

JUPITER, Fla. -- Mayo Acosta is making an early habit of coming through in key situations. His 10th inning sacrifice fly scored Brett Nommensen with the eventual winning run in the Charlotte Stone Crabs' 5-4 victory over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Wednesday at Roger Dean Stadium.

Though hitless on the night, Acosta came up just short of his first home run of the season in the 10th inning, instead settling for the sacrifice fly that allowed his club to grab a series victory. It marked the second time Acosta provided the late inning heroics. His ninth inning single on opening day helped the Stone Crabs grab a walk-off victory over the Bradenton Marauders.

Charlotte received a good start from Alex Colome, who lasted six innings and allowed four runs - three earned - on just three hits. Colome became the first Stone Crabs starter to make it through six innings. Three of the four runs surrendered by Colome came on Edgar Lara's fourth inning home run. Palm Beach scored an unearned run on Mark Thomas' third inning throwing error.

In a match-up of highly touted right-hand strikeout pitchers, Colome outlasted the Cardinals Shelby Miller. Rated the top prospect in the St. Louis farm system by Baseball America, Miller allowed four runs and struck out 11 over 5 2/3 innings of work.

Clinging to a two-run advantage with Miller on the ropes in the sixth inning, Palm Beach manager Luis Aguayo opted to go to his bullpen. Thomas greeted Cardinals reliever Jesse Simpson with a line-drive double to left center field that plated two runs and knotted the score at 4-4.

Thomas was also key in turning the Cardinals away in an eighth inning scoring attempt. With Zack Cox seeking to score from second base on Audry Perez's single to right, a strong throw from Nommensen found Thomas waiting at home to block the plate. Cox was tagged out in an inning-ending collision that kept the game tied.

The Stone Crabs mounted the winning rally in the 10th inning off Palm Beach reliever Jorge Rondon (0-1). A lead-off walk was issued to Nommensen, who promptly stole second and was sacrificed to third with only one out. Following a walk to Mike Sheridan, Acosta lifted a deep drive to right that was reeled in on the warning track but allowed Nommensen to tag and score the go-ahead run.

Josh Satow (2-0) worked the final two innings to pick up his second win in relief this season.

Charlotte will continue the current road trip with three games against the St. Lucie Mets beginning on Thursday. Chris Andujar will battle fellow right-hander Scott Moviel in the opening contest. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.