Bivens strikes out season-high eight in 2-1 loss to Threshers

CLEARWATER, Fla (May 8, 2017) - Charlotte Stone Crabs starter Blake Bivens struck out a season-high eight batters but the Stone Crabs stranded eight runners in a 2-1 loss to the Clearwater Threshers Monday at Spectrum Field.
Bivens (2-3) gave up just two hits on the night but fell victim to a pair of walks in the third inning.
With Charlotte (14-17) leading 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Bivens walked Drew Stankiewicz and Mark Laird. With two outs, Wilson Garcia doubled to the wall in right to give Clearwater (20-12) a 2-1 lead.
Bivens settled in from there, retiring the next 13 hitters. He becomes the first Stone Crabs starter to reach the eighth inning this season.
The Stone Crabs got the scoring going in the top of the third. With two outs, Jim Haley singled before Jake Cronenworth walked. Jake Fraley then lined a double to left to score Haley and give Charlotte the lead.
Haley finished 2-for-3 with a walk in his High-A debut. Manny Sanchez also picked up two hits for the Stone Crabs.
However, Charlotte could not get the big hit after the third, going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position Monday. They stranded eight runners.
Threshers starter José Taveras (4-1) went seven innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out four. Jeff Singer worked the final two innings scoreless to pick up his seventh save of the year.
The Stone Crabs will try and draw even in the series Tuesday at 7 p.m. Alexis Tapia (0-0, 0.00) makes the start for Charlotte against Franklyn Kilomé (2-1, 2.51) of Clearwater. Coverage begisn at 6:45 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.