PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (April 21, 2018) - Willy Ortiz worked seven masterful innings and David Rodríguez drove in three runs to lead the Stone Crabs to a 5-2 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals Saturday night at Charlotte Sports Park. Ortiz surrendered just one unearned run on six hits over
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (April 21, 2018) - Willy Ortiz worked seven masterful innings and David Rodríguez drove in three runs to lead the Stone Crabs to a 5-2 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals Saturday night at Charlotte Sports Park.
Ortiz surrendered just one unearned run on six hits over seven frames, the longest start by a Stone Crabs' (8-8) pitcher all year. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one.
Rodriguez drove in three runs on two base hits, marking his second straight multi-hit game.
Palm Beach (9-7) got the scoring going early when Kramer Robertson doubled to the wall in left. Stefan Trosclair then bounced a ball to third base. Charlotte third baseman Kevin Padlo overthrew first, allowing Robertson to come home and score and give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
With the same score in the bottom of the second, Jesús Sánchez and Padlo both singled up the middle to put runners at first and second with one out. Rodriguez followed by roping a ball into left, which brought in Sanchez to tie the game at one. After a walk and a fielder's choice, Palm Beach starter Ian Oxnevad (1-2) issued a wild pitch, allowing Rodriguez to score to give Charlotte a 2-1 lead.
After Ortiz (2-0) put up five more zeroes, Robbie Tenerowicz led off the bottom of the sixth with a base hit before Nate Lowe drew a walk. Sanchez followed with an RBI double down the right field line to give the Stone Crabs a 3-1 lead. Two batters later, Rodriguez cranked a double into the left field corner to score two and cap the scoring at 5-1.
The Cardinals got a run back in the eighth, but Stone Crabs righty Roel Ramirez went 1.1 scoreless innings to earn his first save of the year.
Charlotte will go for the series sweep Sunday afternoon at 12:35 p.m. Brock Burke (0-2, 10.13) makes the start for the Stone Crabs against Anthony Shew of the Cardinals. Coverage begins at 12:20 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.
