CLEARWATER, Fla. (July 7, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs used three late home runs to seal an 8-3 win over the Clearwater Threshers Saturday night at Spectrum Field.Already leading 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Josh Lowe and Robbie Tenerowicz delivered back-to-back home runs to right to extend
CLEARWATER, Fla. (July 7, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs used three late home runs to seal an 8-3 win over the Clearwater Threshers Saturday night at Spectrum Field.
Already leading 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Josh Lowe and Robbie Tenerowicz delivered back-to-back home runs to right to extend the lead to 6-2. Lowe's solo shot ended a 14-game homerless streak for the Stone Crabs (42-41, 8-8).
Still up four in the top of the eighth, Jermaine Palacios singled before Tristan Gray went to the opposite field for a two-run homer to stretch the lead to 8-2.
Charlotte right-hander Willy Ortiz (5-2) went six innings to earn the win, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six.
The teams entered the fourth inning with the game tied 1-1 before the Stone Crabs bats woke up. Jesús Sánchez delivered a one-out single before stealing second base. Rene Pinto then yanked an RBI double to left center to give Charlotte a 2-1 lead. After a Miles Mastrobuoni walk, Palacios singled to load the bases. Gray followed with an RBI walk to make it 3-1. Zac Law then flew a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4-1 Charlotte.
The Threshers (41-42, 9-6) scored their first run on an inside-the-park home run by Luke Williams. Adam Haseley added a solo shot to right in the sixth before Jose Pujols drove in a run with a triple in the eighth.
Palacios, Mastrobuoni and Gray all reached base three times for Charlotte. The win moves the Stone Crabs into a tie for first place with Fort Myers.
The Stone Crabs will go for the series sweep Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Blake Bivens (5-1, 1.75) makes the start for Charlotte against Ramon Rosso (1-0, 0.00) of Clearwater. Coverage begins at 12:45 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.
