Crawford the Hero in Walk-Off Win
Published on June 27, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- J.P. Crawford knocked in his first two runs in a Clearwater Threshers uniform, including the game-winner as the Threshers walked off with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Yankees on Thursday night at Bright House Field.
With one down in a 3-3 game, Roman Quinn dropped a single to right to put the potential game-winning run aboard in the bottom of the ninth. Quinn would then swipe second, and on a 2-2 count Crawford lined a single to left to score the speedster Quinn with the decisive run.
Crawford, the Threshers' 19-year old shortstop and Phillies' No. 3 prospect, finished the evening 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBI singles.
It was the Yankees (4-4) who struck first for the third consecutive game, this time plating a run off starter Colin Kleven in the first inning.
Down 1-0, the Threshers (4-4) grabbed their first lead of the series in the third.
Angelo Mora belted a double to right-center to start things off, and Quinn reached on a fielder's choice after laying down a sacrifice bunt. Crawford then delivered his first run batted in of the day, chopping a single over the first baseman Greg Bird to plate Mora and tie the game at one.
Brandon Short followed with a hard grounder up the middle, bringing home Quinn to lift Clearwater to a 2-1 advantage.
An inning later, Gabriel Lino singled to center with one out, and Mora reached on an infield hit to put runners at first and second. Quinn made it a 3-1 Threshers' lead when his single to left-center plated Lino from second.
Kleven permitted a second run to Tampa in the sixth, but left in line for the victory. The Threshers' righty finished having gone seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks while striking out five. It was the tenth consecutive start for Kleven in which he lasted at least five innings.
Tampa would pull the game back even in the eighth.
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez struck out Trent Garrison to start the inning, but Garrison reached base on a wild pitch after the third strike kicked off the shinguards of the catcher Lino and rolled toward the Threshers dugout. Jake Cave then sent the first pitch he saw to the gap in left-center to make it a 3-3 game.
Lee Ridenhour (2-5) earned the win after striking out the side in a perfect top of the ninth inning, before Crawford and the Threshers came through with the walk-off in the bottom half.
Clearwater will open a three-game set at home against the Brevard County Manatees on Friday at 6:30 p.m., with Threshers Live! the pre game show set to kick off at 6:15 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from June 27, 2014
- St. Lucie at Fort Myers postponed - St. Lucie Mets
- Stone Crabs' Seven-Run First Inning Dooms Cardinals - Palm Beach Cardinals
- T-Yanks Walk-Off in 2-1 Win over D-Jays - Tampa Yankees
- Manatees Double up Threshers, 8-4 in Series Opener - Brevard County Manatees
- Crawford Homers in 8-4 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- Marauders And Jupiter Ppd; Doubleheader Wednesday, August - Bradenton Marauders
- Friday Night's Doubleheader Washed Out - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Rain Alters Mets and Miracle Series - St. Lucie Mets
- Saturday Is Tenet Health Care Night at Roger Dean Stadium - Jupiter Hammerheads
- Crawford the Hero in Walk-Off Win - Clearwater Threshers
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