PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (August 10, 2018) - Kevin Padlo drove a two-out hit over the head of right fielder Rodrigo Orozco, completing the Stone Crabs comeback in a 7-6 walk-off win over the Dunedin Blue Jays Friday at Charlotte Sports Park. Friday marked the second straight night the Stone Crabs
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (August 10, 2018) - Kevin Padlo drove a two-out hit over the head of right fielder Rodrigo Orozco, completing the Stone Crabs comeback in a 7-6 walk-off win over the Dunedin Blue Jays Friday at Charlotte Sports Park.
Friday marked the second straight night the Stone Crabs (63-50, 29-17) walked off on Dunedin (60-56, 29-19), tying a season-high by erasing a four-run deficit in a victory.
In the bottom of the ninth inning tied at six, Stone Crabs center fielder Jake Fraley singled to left with two outs. Fraley then advanced to second on a passed ball. Rene Pinto followed by drawing a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. The Blue Jays then intentionally walked Joey Roach to load the bases. On a 1-2 pitch, Padlo launched the game-winner to score Fraley from third and win the game 7-6.
The Stone Crabs were trailing 6-4 in the seventh before Miles Mastrobuoni and Robbie Tenerowicz lined back-to-back singles to open up the inning. The next batter Fraley tripled to right field to score a pair and tie the game at six.
Ivan Pelaez (6-2) earned the win after working a scoreless ninth inning of relief. Orlando Romero tossed five scoreless innings, allowing one hit on four strikeouts while keeping the Blue Jays within reach.
In a scoreless game in the bottom of the first, Vidal Brujan tripled down the right field line before Mastrobuoni drew a walk. With runners at the corners and nobody out, Tenerowicz pulled a single to left to plate Brujan and give the Stone Crabs a 1-0 lead. Fraley followed with a single to right to extend the lead to 2-0, but Orozco threw out Tenerowicz at third to stifle the rally.
After the Blue Jays got a run back in the top of the second on a solo home run from Chad Spanberger to make it 2-1, Josh Palacios and Kevin Smith both singled with one out in the third. Palacios then came home to score on a wild pitch before Smith crossed home on an error to give Dunedin a 3-2 lead.
Still up one in the top of the fourth, Alberto Mineo and Ivan Castillo both singled to start the inning. Orozco followed with a double to plate Mineo and make it 4-2. The next batter was Yeltsin Gudino, who lined a single into right to make it 5-2. Two batters later, Smith drove home the final run of the inning with a single to bring the score to 6-2.
Down by four, the Stone Crabs responded in the bottom of the fifth. Tenerowicz homered to the opposite field in right before Pinto doubled to left. Pinto then advanced to third on a groundout before coming home to score on a wild pitch to make it 6-4.
The Stone Crabs will look to earn the series win Saturday by sending out right-hander Brian Shaffer (0-0, 4.66) to face fellow righty Connor Eller (6-4, 2.92). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. with coverage slated to begin at 5:50 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network
