Charlotte Stone Crabs Win Slugfest Against Brevard County Manatees

The Charlotte Stone Crabs were on the winning end of an 11-8 slugfest against the Brevard County Manatees on Thursday night at Charlotte Sports Park. Both clubs combined for 19 runs on 27 hits. The Stone Crabs set the club record for most runs in an inning with their sixth run second inning.

Henry Wrigley continues to lead the Stone Crabs offense. Wrigley was 5-5 during the game with two doubles and a home run, ending a triple away from hitting the cycle while driving home four runs, scored three and picked up a stolen base. The five hits were the most hits in a game by a Stone Crab.

The Stone Crabs took the lead in the first inning when Wrigley struck a line drive to left field that scored Tim Beckham and gave them a 1-0 lead.

The Manatees answered back with a three run second inning. Michael Roberts drove home two runs with a triple to center and later scored on a single by Matt Cline to take a 3-1 lead.

But then came the big six run inning of the Stone Crabs. Beckham drove home the first two runs of the inning with an RBI double to left field that scored Jake Jefferies and Matt Hall. Leslie Anderson produced a productive out with a ground out to first to score Reid Fronk. Wrigley then followed with an RBI single to score Beckham. Matt Joyce cleared the bases with a two run homer to right that gave the Stone Crabs a 7-3 lead.

The Manatees then began a two inning rally that would tie the game, scoring two runs in the third inning and another two in the fourth. Home runs by Brock Kjeldgaard and Anderson De La Rosa would help fuel the charge as they tied the game 7-7.

The Stone Crabs took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Wrigley led off the inning with a double to left then moved closer to the plate by stealing third. Anthony Scelfo drove home the go ahead run with a single to third that scored Wrigley and gave the Stone Crabs an 8-7 lead.

The Stone Crabs picked up some insurance in the fifth inning when Wrigley struck a two run home run to left field, his eighth of the season to give the Stone Crabs a 10-7 lead.

Brevard County would push across another run in the sixth on a sac fly by Erik Komatsu to score Kentrail Davis.

The Stone Crabs picked up their final run of the contest in the eighth inning. Wrigley once again got the inning started with a double to right. Isaias Velasquez came on to pinch run for Wrigley. Velasquez would score on an RBI double by Jefferies to give the Stone Crabs the 11-8 victory.

Frank De Los Santos suffered a rough start, allowing 7 runs (5 earned) in 3 1/3 innings in the no decision. Tommy Rafferty (3-1) picked up with win, allowing 1 run on 1 hit in 2 2/3 inning. Neil Schenk and Zach Quate combined for three shut-out frames to close the game with Quate recording his fifth save of the season.

Both clubs are back at it on Friday night in game two of the four game series at Charlotte Sports Park. Chris Andujar (3-1, 2.63) will make the start for the Stone Crabs facing Wily Peralta (3-1, 3.38) for Brevard County.