Stone Crabs Schnide Extends to Six
FORT MYERS, FL (April 10, 2014) - A week into the 2014 season, and almost every sign is currently pointing south for the Stone Crabs. Essentially overmatched in nearly every inning since their 5-4 victory over Bradenton on Opening Day, there's a certain calm and confidence that still exists in the clubhouse. Nobody would dare speak of the proverbial panic button, and even manager Jared Sandberg firmly backed this notion up before first pitch on Thursday night. A promising first inning seemed to support everyone's feeling that it was only a matter of time before the turnaround. However, the offense would not score again despite hitting it hard most of the night, as the Miracle improved to 6-1 with a 4-1 victory.
After failing to score first in each of their first six games, Charlotte finally broke through early against Fort Myers starter Tyler Duffey (2-0). With one out, Leonardo Reginatto's slow grounder to third was mishandled by Niko Goodrum for an error. The heart of the order then came through with a pair of singles from Tommy Coyle and Patrick Leonard to put the Stone Crabs ahead 1-0.
Defense had almost been an afterthought through the first week of the season, but that changed in the bottom of the second. After Stuart Turner's double to left with two outs, Mike Gonzales rocketed a line drive that was headed to the gap in right center. Marty Gantt dove after the potential game-tying base hit, only to see center fielder Andrew Toles fly in like a flash to make the catch and keep the lead intact.
A leadoff single by Josh Sale in the top of the fourth gave Charlotte its fourth base hit. Gantt's groundout to third moved Sale to second, and here's where the luck started to run out. After lining out to left in the second inning, third baseman Tyler Goeddel hit a line drive on the screws down the third base line. But Goodrum quickly dove to his right to snag the liner and prevent the run from scoring before Jake DePew popped out to the catcher Turner for the third out.
Fort Myers tied it up with two outs in the fourth on right fielder Adam Brett Walker's second home run in as many nights, a pull shot over the left field wall. The early warning started the downfall of what had been an otherwise solid outing by Stone Crabs starter Roberto Gomez. The Dominican-born righty encountered immediate problems in the home fifth following singles by Turner and Travis Harrison, and a walk to Gonzales. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Goodrum lashed an RBI single down the right field line to break the 1-1 tie. Back to the top of the order, it was the switch-hitting middle infield duo of Levi Michael and Jorge Polanco who provided RBI singles of their own to put the Miracle ahead for good 4-1.
Notes: The Stone Crabs brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh following singles by DePew and Jonathan Quiñonez…Toles grounded into an inning-ending double play turned solo by the second baseman Michael, who also did it to end the first inning…Gantt (fifth) and Toles (eighth) each had outfield assists to throw out runners at the plate…Reginatto had a hit in all three games in the series…Gomez (0-1) is the first starter to throw at least six innings…Gantt's four game hitting streak came to an end.
The Stone Crabs return home for the start of a six game homestand on Friday, April 11 at 6:30 PM against the Palm Beach Cardinals. The first 750 fans in attendance will receive a free cowbell courtesy of the Stone Crabs Booster Club. There will also be "Two for One" specials on 16 ounce fountain sodas, draft beers, and other alcoholic beverages from 5:30 PM until the end of the third inning. There are still great seats available, so visit www.stonecrabsbaseball.com or call 941-206-HITS (4487) to order your tickets now!
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