Stone Crabs fend off Blue Jays 5-2

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (July 25, 2017) - Kevin Padlo and David Rodríguez came up with important hits Tuesday as the Charlotte Stone Crabs held off the Dunedin Blue Jays in a 5-2 win at Charlotte Sports Park.
With the game scoreless in the bottom of the third, Peter Maris singled before Angel Moreno doubled off the wall in left to give the Stone Crabs (47-52, 16-15) a 1-0 lead.
With one out in the top of the fourth, David Olmedo-Barrera walked against Dunedin (52-49, 18-14) starter Josh DeGraaf (4-1). After an Alec Sole single moved Olmedo-Barrera to third, Nate Lowe lined a ball to center to score Olmedo-Barrera and give Charlotte a 2-0 lead.
But the Blue Jays fought back in the fifth. After a D.J. Davis walk and a J.C. Cardenas single, Cavan Biggio doubled to right with two outs to tie the game at two.
With things still tied in the bottom of the sixth, Charlotte third baseman Kevin Padlo launched a home run to left field to break the tie and give the Stone Crabs a 3-2 lead.
Charlotte righty Eduar Lopez (7-7) went six innings to earn the win, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three.
With the Stone Crabs still up one in the bottom of the eighth, Olmedo-Barrera singled and Sole walked with one out. After a free pass to Lowe loaded the bases, Rodriguez lined a single to center to give the Crabs a 5-2 lead.
Dalton Moats turned in a perfect ninth inning to earn his eighth save of the season.
Moreno, Olmedo-Barrera and Sole all reached base three times in the win.
The Stone Crabs will turn to Tyler Brashears (3-4, 5.59) on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. Conor Fisk (5-9, 3.82) makes the start for Dunedin. Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.