PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (August 30, 2017) - Nate Lowe's first inning grand slam powered the Charlotte Stone Crabs to a 6-4 win over the Clearwater Threshers Wednesday morning.The victory moves the Stone Crabs (68-63, 37-26) within 2.5 games of forcing a Monday doubleheader with first-pace Fort Myers. In a scoreless
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (August 30, 2017) - Nate Lowe's first inning grand slam powered the Charlotte Stone Crabs to a 6-4 win over the Clearwater Threshers Wednesday morning.
The victory moves the Stone Crabs (68-63, 37-26) within 2.5 games of forcing a Monday doubleheader with first-pace Fort Myers.
In a scoreless game in the top of the first, Clearwater center fielder Mark Laird reached first on a strikeout before Jose Gomez singled him to second. After a popout, Darick Hall lined a single to right to score Laird and make it 1-0. Wilson Garcia then grounded a ball to short, on which an error allowed Hall to reach second safely and load the bases. Edgar Cabral followed by driving in Gomez with an infield single to give the Threshers a 2-0 lead. Charlotte shortstop Lucius Fox then fired wide to first, allowing Hall to score and make it 3-0 Clearwater.
In the bottom of the inning, Fox doubled to left to start the inning. After Clearwater starter Seranthony Domínguez (4-4) struck out the next two, he walked three consecutive batters to make the score 3-1. With the bases loaded and two outs, Nate Lowe slugged a grand slam over the wall in center to give the Stone Crabs a 5-3 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, Clearwater started the inning with two straight singles before an Emmanuel Marrero sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. Jose Antequera followed by rolling a ball to second to bring in the lead runner and make it 5-4.
Still up one in the bottom of the fourth, Thomas Milone drew a leadoff walk before going to third on an Angel Moreno single. The next batter was David Rodríguez, who flew a ball to center to score Milone and make it 6-4 Stone Crabs.
Stone Crabs starter Brock Burke (5-6) worked six innings to get the win, allowing three earned runs while striking out three. Reliever Dalton Moats worked three perfect innings to earn his 11th save.
The Stone Crabs open their final series of the season Thursday when they host the Bradenton Marauders at 6:35 p.m. Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.
