Charlotte Stone Crabs defeat St. Lucie Mets 7-3

The Game: The Charlotte Stone Crabs defeated the St. Lucie Mets 7-3 Tuesday afternoon at Tradition Field. It was the Stone Crabs that scored first by putting three runs on the board in the third inning. The inning started by St. Lucie walking the first three batters of the inning. Emeel Salem drew the first walk but was thrown out stealing second. Shawn O’Malley followed but was successful in stealing second. Then it was Shawn Williams drawing the third walk. Williams and O’Malley pulled off a double steal to give the Stone Crabs runners at second and third for Cody Cipriano. Cipriano followed through with an RBI single to center to score O’Malley. Henry Wrigley drove home Williams with a single to left which also advance Cipriano to second. Cipriano then moved over to third on a wild pitch by Scott Shawn and came home on a sac fly by Reid Fronk to give the Stone Crabs a 3-0 lead.

The Stone Crabs struck with three more runs in the top of the fifth. Shawn O’Malley reached first after being hit by a pitch. Shawn Williams followed with a walk. They both advance ninety feet when Francisco Pena threw the ball away on a pick-off attempt. Cody Cipriano picked up his second RBI on the day with a single that scored O’Malley. Henry Wrigley followed with an RBI single to score Williams. John Matulia drove in the final run of the inning with a sac fly that scored Cody Cipriano and put the Stone Crabs ahead 6-0.

St. Lucie final crossed the plate in the fifth inning as Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a single to center that score Brahiam Maldonado. The Stone Crabs countered with a run of their own in the sixth when Cody Cipriano singled home Shawn Williams to give the Stone Crabs a 7-1 lead.

Then in the bottom of the ninth the Mets did something that everyone in the Florida State League have been trying to do all season, score off Matt Gorgen. And they did it twice. Hector Pellot singled to right allowing Brahiam Maldonado to score. Then Pellot scored off a single by Greg Veloz. But Gorgen got it together and struck out Kirk Nieuwenhuis to end the game and give the Stone Crabs a 7-3 win.

Alex Cobb improved to 4-4 with the victory, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 6. Kevin Boggan pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings and allowed 2 hits and struck out 2. Matt Gorgen surrendered 2 runs on 3 hits and recording 2 strike outs. With the 2 runs allowed tonight, Gorgen still holds a 0.78 ERA. Scott Shaw was the losing pitcher for St. Lucie.

What Went Right: Cody Cipriano; 3 for 4 with 3 RBI’s and 2 runs scored while drawing a walk.

What Went Wrong: Christian Lopez; 0-4 and was the only Stone Crab not to reach base with a hit or walk.

A Look Ahead: The Stone Crabs and Mets will play a doubleheader tomorrow at Tradition Field. One game will be the make up of a rainout during the May 17th series at Charlotte Sports Park, the other will be the regular scheduled game. Jesse Darcy (1-6, 5.92) and Brant Rustich (1-1, 2.61) will pitch game one. Game two will feature Jose Mejias (1-1, 5.68) against Nick Waechter (2-0, 5.75).