The Charlotte Stone Crabs started the second season by taking 2 out of 3 from the Fort Myers Miracle, but after taking the first game of a four game series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, Charlotte dropped the last two.
But on Sunday they won the rubber game, 3-0 after a pitching performance from
The Week That Was
Tuesday, June 18th
Right hander Tommy Romero tossed 6.1 shutout innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out four to earn his fourth win on the season, while lowering his ERA to 2.20. Mikey York tossed an inning, earning his six save on the season. As for the offense, Thomas Milone and Car Chester had RBI singles driving in Charlotte’s two runs in the game.
Wednesday, June 19
Game 1
After a rain-out on Monday, both teams were tabbed to play two seven inning games on Wednesday. The Stone Crabs victory on Tuesday was short-lived as Charlotte failed to keep Fort Myers off the scoreboard again, as the Miracle scored three runs through the first two innings. The Stone Crabs mounted a comeback, with three runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3, but the home team prevailed scoring the winning in the bottom of the seventh. to take Game 1, 4-3.
Game 2
It didn’t take long for the Stone Crabs to battle back into the win column as starter Joe Ryan, who has been nearly unhitable in 2019, tossed six outstanding shutout innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out nine batters. Ryan earned his fourth win on the season, while dropping his ERA to 2.00. Alex Valverde tossed a perfect inning to help close out the one hit gem. The offense came alive with five runs led by Jim Haley (3 for 4, R, 2 RBIs), Final score 5-0.
Thursday, June 20
After taking care of the first half division winners, the Stone Crabs faced the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the opening game of a four game set and continued their pitching dominance with a 4-0 victory. This time it was Shane McClanahan‘s turn to pitch a gem as he tossed 6.1 shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven batters, to earn hos first victory of the season. McClanahan was promoted from the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Class A Full Season) on June 8th and on June 12th, he tossed 5.1 shutout innings, allowing six hits, while striking out 10 batters. The four runs came on an RBI triple from Milone, an RBI single from Vidal Brujan, a bases loaded walk from Garrett Whitey and and RBI sac fly off the bat of Ronaldo Hernandez.
Friday, June 21
The Lakeland Flying Tigers came out swinging on Friday scoring seven runs through the first three innings. The Stone Crabs scored a run in the bottom of the second, and two in the fifth to pull within 7-3, but the night belonged to Lakeland, as they added three more runs in the top of the 7th, leading to a 10-3 victory. Stone Crabs Moises Gomez hit his seventh home run of the season in the loss.
Saturday, June 22
On Saturday, both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings, until the Flying Tigers scored six runs in the top of the fourth inning, to blow the game wide open. After adding a run in the next inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead, the Stone Crabs battled back with a run in the bottom of the fifth, and three in the sixth to pull within 7-4. But Lakeland added one each in the seventh and eighth and even though Charlotte scored two in the bottom of the eighth, it was not enough as they would fall short at 9-6. As for the Stone Crabs offense, Gomez hit his 14th double on the season, Milone and Kaleo Johnson both drove in two and after only his second game after being promoted from the Hot Rods, Michael Smith hit his first home run of the season.
Sunday, June 23
The Stone Crabs received another gem performance from Romero, as he won his fifth game of the season tossing 5.1 shutout innings in relief, allowing three hits, and struck out nine batters. The Stone Crabs offense was led by Johnson (2 for 4, R, 2 RBIs), Garrett Whitely (3 for 4, 2 R, Double), and Michael Smith (1 for 2, Double, 2 RBIs), leading the team to a 7-3 rubber game victory.
The Stone Crabs started the week on a high note and ended it the same, as they finished 4-3, putting them in third place, two games out behind the division leading St Lucie Mets (6-1).
