Charlotte Stone Crabs rally falls short in 3-2 loss to Tampa Yankees

The Game: The Charlotte Stone Crabs tried to mount a comeback in the late innings but fell short a run in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Yankees Sunday evening at Charlotte Sports Park. Tampa’s big first inning doomed the Stone Crabs as they managed to out hit the Yankees 11-4 and only allowed one hit outside the first inning, but still fell short.

Tampa struck first, tagging rehabbing Jake McGee for three runs in the first inning. Daniel Brewer singled to center to start the game. Brewer advanced to second on a sac bunt by Matt Cusick and then to third on a wild pitch. Austin Romaine followed with an RBI single to score Brewer. Brandon Laird then cleared the bases with a homer to put the Yankees ahead 3-0.

Tampa and Charlotte went out to out for the next six innings with neither team able to plate a run. But that all ended in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Stone Crabs took the zero off the board. Omar Luna and Shawn Riggans delivered back to back singles to start the inning. Then it was Ryan Royster’s single to left that score Luna and put the Stone Crabs on the scoreboard.

The Omar Luna/Shawn Riggans combo struck again in the ninth. This time it was Luna leading off with a single to center and Riggans driving him home with a double to center to pull the Stone Crabs to within one run of the Yankees. But they were unable to produce any more runs and the damage of the first inning was unable to be overcome as the Stone Crabs fell 3-2.

Jake McGee suffered the loss by surrendering 3 runs off 3 hits in 1 1/3 innings of work while recording a strikeout. Austin Hinkle followed by throwing 4 2/3 innings of no hit baseball while striking out 5 and walking 1. Kevin Boggan finished out the final 3 innings by giving up 1 hit and striking out 1. DJ Mitchell was the winning pitcher for Tampa.

What Went Right: Shawn Williams; 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.

What Went Wrong: Jake McGee; scheduled to pitch 2 innings in his rehab schedule but was taken out after being roughed up in 1 1/3 innings of work, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits with 2 wild pitches.

A Look Ahead: The Stone Crabs and Yankees play game two of the series on Monday night at Charlotte Sports Park. David Newmann (5-5) and Lance Pendleton (10-5) are the scheduled starters.