FSL Divisional Series: Charlotte Stone Crabs vs Palm Beach Cardinals (Game Two)

Port Charlotte, Florida: With a 1-0 lead, the Charlotte Stone Crabs hosted the Palm Beach Cardinals for Game Two of the Florida State League Divisional Series. The Stone Crabs won game one 14-1 in Palm Beach and was looking to win the best-of-three series in front of their home crowd at Charlotte Sports Park.

The Stone Crabs wasted no time taking the lead, scoring in the first inning. Braxton Lee opened the inning with a bunt single. He moved to third on a single by Steven Souza Jr, who was rehabbing with the Stone Crabs. A sac fly by Mike Marjama scored Lee and gave the Stone Crabs a 1-0 lead.

The Stone Crabs added another run in the fourth inning. A solo homer by Casey Gillaspie increased the Stone Crabs lead to 2-0.

Palm Beach tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. An RBI double by Luke Voit and an RBI single by Danny Diekroeger tied the game 2-2.

The Stone Crabs regained the lead in the sixth, once again on the bat of Gillaspie. Lee singled to center and Marjama reached on a hit by pitch. Then Gillaspie drove both runners home with a single to center to give the Stone Crabs a 4-2 lead.

The Cardinals cut the lead in half in the seventh. Craig Aikin doubled to left and later scored on a single by Casey Turgeon to make it 4-3

The Stone Crabs extended their lead further in the eighth inning. The rally started on a single by Lee. Then Granden Goetzman cleared the bases with a two run homer to give the Stone Crabs a 6-3 lead.

The Cardinals tried to rally in the ninth as they pushed across a run on a Voit double. But the Stone Crabs battled back and stranded the tying runs on base to earn the win and advance to the Florida State League Championship Series.

Click on the photo above to view my Stone Crabs/Cardinals photo gallery.