Crabs lead South’s All-Star victory
PORT ST. LUCIE – The Charlotte Stone Crabs carried their dominance into the All-Star break and to the Florida State League All-Star Game itself Saturday night.
Sparked by first baseman Jacob Bauers, starting pitcher Jacob Faria and a collective dominance on the mound, the South Division All-Stars cruised to a 6-0 win over the North All-Stars at Tradition Field.
Bauers, acquired by the Rays in the three-team trade that sent Wil Myers to the Padres, earned MVP honors after opening the scoring with a two-run double.
Faria, who leads the league with 10 wins and a 1.33 ERA, started for the South and struck out two in a perfect inning.
The 11-man South pitching staff limited the North to six hits, two through the first six innings, and struck out eight. Stone Crabs southpaw Chris Kirsch worked around a walk in a hitless third to pick up the victory.
Bauers, Tampa Bay’s No. 21 prospect, put the South in front for good when he followed a single by Jupiter’s Yefri Perez and a walk by Rays No. 3 prospect Willy Adames with a double to left field.
Hammerheads third baseman Brian Anderson fielded a high infield chopper off the bat of Brevard County’s Chris McFarland and Bauers handled the off-balance throw for the out. The South extended its lead with a four-run outburst in the fifth.
St. Lucie’s Jeff McNeil and Fort Myers Miracle Alex Swim hit back-to-back singles in front of Bradenton’s JaCoby Jones’ triple to right.
Clearwater’s Colin Klevin took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits and a walk while recording two outs in the third.