Charlotte Stone Crabs lose to Palm Beach 10-4

The Game: The Palm Beach Cardinals used the long ball to defeat the Charlotte Stone Crabs 10-4 at Charlotte Sports Park. Palm Beach got on the board first in the second inning as Shane Peterson led the inning off with a double to left and then later scored off an RBI double by Thomas Pham to put Palm Beach ahead 1-0.

The Stone Crabs matched the run in the bottom of the second as Pedro Powell singled home Reid Fronk to tie the game at 1. The Stone Crabs took the lead in the third as Matt Fields doubled to score Greg Sexton and then was later drove home by a Reid Fronk single putting the Stone Crabs on top 3-1.

But the Cardinals did not sit quietly, putting six runs on the board in the next four innings. The offensive assault started off in the fourth inning as Mathew Arburr hit a solo homer to left. The Cardinals added another run in the fifth when Nick Derba scored off a sac fly by Jermaine Curtis. Back to back homers by Matthew Arburr and Chris Swauger gave Palm Beach two more runs in the sixth. They added two runs in the seventh off a passed ball by Christian Lopez that allowed Colt Sedbrook to score and an RBI single by Shane Peterson that now gave the Cardinals a 7-3 lead.

The Stone Crabs worked across another run in the bottom of the seventh as Cody Cipriano led off the inning with a single, stole second and then later scored off an RBI single by Christian Lopez. But the Cardinals answered back with a 3 run homer by Shane Peterson in the ninth inning to put the Cardinals up to stay 10-4.

Jesse Darcy was charged with the loss going 5 1/3 innings giving up 5 runs off 8 hits with 3 of them being home runs, 1 walk and no strikeouts. Paul Phillips pitched 1 2/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits with 3 K’s and a walk. Austin Hinkle allowed 3 runs (2 of them earned) on 3 hits while striking out 2 in 2 innings of work. Blake King was the winner for Palm Beach.

What Went Right: Cody Cipriano; 3-5 with 2 doubles and a run scored

What Went Wrong: Pitching; combined for 10 runs of 14 hits with 4 of them being home runs.

A Look Ahead: The Charlotte Stone Crabs and Palm Beach Cardinals finish the three game series Friday night at Charlotte Sports Park. David Newmann (1-2) will oppose Scott Gorgen (0-2).