TAMPA, Fla. (May 21, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs used four home runs Monday night to power past the Tampa Tarpons 10-6 at Steinbrenner Field.All four dingers came in the first four innings, as the Stone Crabs scored double digits for the eighth time this season. Tampa (23-19) starter
TAMPA, Fla. (May 21, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs used four home runs Monday night to power past the Tampa Tarpons 10-6 at Steinbrenner Field.
All four dingers came in the first four innings, as the Stone Crabs scored double digits for the eighth time this season.
Tampa (23-19) starter Albert Abreu (1-1) surrendered each long ball, allowing seven runs on just four hits while striking out six and walking two.
Charlotte starter Blake Bivens made his return from the disabled list to work two scoreless innings, striking out three in his season debut.
Nate Lowe's two-run homer in the first made it 2-0 Stone Crabs before Kevin Padlo banked a dinger off the pole in the left to make it 3-1. After the Tarpons scored two in the third, Jesús Sánchez and Rene Pinto both pulled two-run home runs in the top of the fourth to make the score 7-2 Charlotte.
After Stone Crabs righty Willy Ortiz (4-0) got the first two outs in the bottom of the inning, he allowed three straight two-out hits, capped by a three-run shot from Timmy Robinson, making the score 7-5.
With the score the same in the top of the sixth, Robbie Tenerowicz doubled to left for Charlotte before Tristan Gray singled to center to make it 8-5. Kevin Padlo followed with an RBI single to left to stretch the lead to 9-5. After a Pinto single and a walk loaded the bases, Peter Maris drew a free pass to force home Padlo and make it 10-5 Charlotte.
After Tampa got a solo home run from Dom Thompson-Williams in the sixth, they loaded the bases on three straight singles to start the eighth. Stone Crabs' reliever Brandon Koch then walked a batter and hit a batter to make the score 10-8. He then issued a wild pitch, moving the tying run to third with nobody out. Koch responded by striking out the next three batters, miraculously holding a 10-9 Stone Crabs lead.
After the Stone Crabs added two more in the top of the ninth, Koch put down Tampa in order to earn his second save of the year.
The Stone Crabs will go for the series victory Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Brock Burke (1-4, 5.92) makes the start for Charlotte against Nick Green (4-1, 2.50) of the Tarpons. Coverage starts at 6:15 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.
