Charlotte Stone Crabs 6, Bradenton Marauders 1
[ box ]
The Marauders scored a run in the top of the 1st, then could not score again, as the Stone Crabs put up 6 unanswered runs. RF Robbie Grossman led off with a single, then moved to second on 2B Jarek Cunningham’s sacrifice bunt. Grossman scored on 1B Aaron Baker’s RBI single. C Carlos Paulino and SS Benji Gonzalez hit back-to-back singles with two outs in the 2nd, and a wild pitch moved them both into scoring position, but Grossman lined out to third to end the inning.
The Marauders also put two runners on base in the 3rd, when Baker walked and DH Calvin Anderson singled. They were also left on base. Gonzalez singled in the 4th and Baker hit a ground-rule double over the left field wall in the 5th. The only Bradenton runner after the 5th was LF David Rubinstein, who was hit by a pitch in the 6th.
Bradenton starter Kyle McPherson pitched 4 innings and allowed one run, which came on three consecutive singles in the 2nd. He gave up one more hit and hit a batter with a pitch in the 3rd, then retired the side in order in the 4th. McPherson struck out 5 batters. The score was tied at 1-1 when McPherson left the game, so he was not involved in the decision.
Brett Sinkbeil took over to begin the 5th inning, and he pitched 3 frames. He gave up one run in the 5th on a single, a stolen base, a wild pitch, and an RBI ground out. Sinkbeil retired the next 7 batters he faced. Ryan Beckman pitched the bottom of the 8th, and that’s when Charlotte put up 4 insurance runs. The inning began with a triple, and a wild pitch let that runner score. A double and a single put two runners into scoring position, and another triple drove both of those runners in. A sacrifice fly plated the runner from third, for the 4th run of the inning, for a 6-1 lead.
Delmarva Shorebirds 5, West Virginia Power 3
[ box ]
C Elias Diaz went 3-for-3 for the Power, who could not keep up with the Shorebirds. The first three innings of the game were scoreless. Power starter Colton Cain allowed only one base runner over his first three innings, a ground-rule double in the 2nd inning. The Power put three runners on in those innings — SS Drew Maggi walked and stole second base in the 1st. 1B Chase Lyles, in his first game with the Power, reached base on a fielding error in the 2nd but was thrown out trying to steal second base. Diaz also walked in that inning.
Both teams jumped onto the scoreboard in the 4th. A hit batter, a bunt single, and a fielding error loaded the bases for the Shorebirds. A walk forced in one run, and a sacrifice fly plated a second run, for a 2-0 lead. The Power responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning. LF Dan Grovatt was hit by a pitch and RF Justin Howard walked. Lyles grounded to short, moving both runners into scoring position. DH Kawika Emsley-Pai’s ground out brought in Grovatt from third, and Diaz’s single drove in Howard.
Cain gave up 3 runs in the top of the 6th. The Shorebirds hit back-to-back solo homers, then a double and a fielding error brought in the third run, to give Delmarva a 5-2 lead. The Power again answered in the bottom of the inning, with a run on Diaz’s double, a ground out to move him to third, and a passed ball. Cain was responsible for all 5 runs, but only 2 were earned. He allowed 5 hits and a walk, with 2 strikeouts in 6 innings.
Victor Black pitched two innings, retiring all 6 batters he faced. Brooks Pounders retired the Shorebirds in order in the top of the 9th. The Power put runners on base in the 7th and 8th innings. Grovatt walked in the 7th, but was out at second in a force play. Diaz tripled in the 8th and 2B Kevin Mort walked, but they were both left on base. Diaz missed hitting for the cycle by a home run.
