Palm Beach silences Stone Crabs 2-1

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (May 25, 2019) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs managed just one hit after the first inning Saturday, losing 2-1 to the Palm Beach Cardinals at Charlotte Sports Park.
The Stone Crabs (26-23) started hot against Palm Beach (30-18) starter Edgar Gonzalez. Five of the first six batters reached base, but Charlotte was only able to score one run. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jim Haley pulled an RBI single to third to make it 1-0.
From there, Gonzalez struck out seven batters over 6.2 innings, allowing just that one run on five hits.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second, Cardinals first baseman Luken Baker cranked a solo home run to left to tie the game 1-1.
With the game still tied in the top of the sixth, Justin Toerner drew a leadoff walk. After he advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, Scott Hurst lifted an RBI double to the left field corner to give Palm Beach a 2-1 lead.
Charlotte starter Joe Ryan (1-2) struck out eight over six innings, allowing two runs on four hits in defeat.
The Stone Crabs bullpen turned in three scoreless innings to keep the game close. Justin Marsden, Chandler Raiden and Alex Valverde all struck out at least one batter in a clean frame.
Charlotte will look to earn a split with the Cardinals at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Stephen Woods Jr. (2-1, 3.95) will be on the mound for Charlotte, opposed to Perry DellaValle (2-2, 1.88) of Palm Beach. Coverage starts at 12:15 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.