PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (April 20, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs scored four runs in the first and made that lead hold up, beating the Palm Beach Cardinals 4-3 Friday night at Charlotte Sports Park. Stone Crabs' (7-8) pitching stranded 11 Cardinals (9-6) runners, limiting Palm Beach to 1-for-11 with
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (April 20, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs scored four runs in the first and made that lead hold up, beating the Palm Beach Cardinals 4-3 Friday night at Charlotte Sports Park.
Stone Crabs' (7-8) pitching stranded 11 Cardinals (9-6) runners, limiting Palm Beach to 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Charlotte started fast against Palm Beach starter Austin Warner (0-1). Miles Mastrobuoni started the game with a single to left before Tristan Gray pulled a hit into right to put runners at first and second. Robbie Tenerowicz followed by grounding a ball to center, bringing home Mastrobuoni to give the Stone Crabs a 1-0 lead. After a groundout moved runners to second and third, Kevin Padlo stroked a single over shortstop to extend the Charlotte lead to 3-0. The next batter was David Rodríguez , who dropped a single down the right field line to chase home Padlo and cap the inning with the Stone Crabs in front 4-0.
In the top of the third, José Godoy walked before Palm Beach first baseman Stefan Trosclair homered to right field to make the score 4-2.
Charlotte starter Mikey York (2-1) scattered six hits and five walks over five-plus innings, allowing only two hits to earn the win. York used two double plays in key spots to help keep his team in front.
Relievers J.D. Busfield and Ivan Pelaez combined to allow one run over three innings to keep the score at 4-3 heading to the ninth. The Cardinals got the leadoff man to third with one out in the final inning against Adrian Navas , but Navas got a line out and groundball to seal the win and notch his first save.
The Stone Crabs have now won three straight and five of their last six contests. They'll take on Palm Beach at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday. Willy Ortiz (1-0, 5.63) will pitch for Charlotte against Ian Oxnevad (1-1, 2.53) of the Cardinals. Coverage begins at 5:50 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.
