Charlotte Stone Crabs light up the scoreboard and down the Cardinals

The Game: The Charlotte Stone Crabs scored a season high 11 runs to defeat the Palm Beach Cardinals 11-5 at Charlotte Sports Park The Stone Crabs put up a huge first inning sending everyone to the plate and scoring five runs in the process. Emeel Salem led off the game with a triple to center field. Shawn O’Malley followed with an RBI double to score Salem and was advanced to third on a single by Greg Sexton. Matt Fields cleared the bases with a three run home run, his sixth homer of the season. Omar Luna drove in the fifth run of the inning by singling home Nevin Ashley. The Stone Crabs added another run in the second inning when Reid Fronk hit a sacrifice fly to score Greg Sexton and put the Stone Crabs ahead 6-0.

Palm Beach added three runs to the board in the top of the fourth inning. The Cardinals picked up five consecutive singles with Matthew Arburr, Paul Vazquez and Jose Garcia picking up the RBI’s.

The Stone Crabs matched the Cardinals three run inning with a three run inning of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Cody Cipriano drove Shawn O’Malley home and advanced runners to second and third. Nevin Ashley followed with a 2 run triple to put the Stone Crabs ahead 9-3.

Palm Beach got two more runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Shane Peterson delivered a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning. Then in the eighth inning, Colt Sedbrook hit an RBI single to score Jose Garcia, Stone Crabs still held the lead 9-5.

The Stone Crabs made up the two runs by having a two run seventh inning. Ryan Royster got things started with a double to right and was brought home by an Omar Luna single. Luna scored later when Shawn O’Malley hit a ground rule double to left field. Charlotte now had a 11-5 lead.

Jesse Darcy pitched 4 innings in the start giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and striking out 2. Rayner Oliveros was the winner going 2 innings and surrendering 1 run off 1 hit, the home run by Shane Peterson, and struck out 3. Paul Phillips gave up 1 run on 1 hit in 1 inning of service. Matt Gorgen finished out the game with 2 shutout innings giving up 1 hit and striking out 4 of the 8 batters he faced.

What Went Right: The Offense; season high 11 runs and 17 hits. Ryan Royster; 3-4 with a double and a run scored. Matt Fields; 3-5 with a home run, double, 3 RBI’s and a run scored.

What Went Wrong: n/a

A Look Ahead: The Stone Crabs and Cardinals face off in game two of the series at Charlotte Sports Park. It will be a battle of the lefty’s as David Newmann (1-1) faces Nick Addition (0-1).