Crawford's Late Slam Keeps Threshers Close in 10-8 Loss
Published on August 5, 2023 under Florida State League (FSL)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, FL - Justin Crawford's ninth-inning grand slam cut put the Clearwater Threshers (67-33, 23-12) within two runs, but it wasn't enough as the Lakeland Flying Tigers (50-50, 24-11) held on to win 10-8 on Saturday night at BayCare Ballpark. The Threshers look to even the series in a Sunday afternoon finale.
Lakeland scored the first run of the game on a double in the first to take a 1-0 lead. William Bergolla led off the first with a walk and moved to third on a two-out single from Ricardo Rosario. Felix Reyes sent the second pitch he saw from Lakeland starter Matt Walker into left to plate Bergolla and tie the game at one. After Zach Arnold walked to load the bases, he beat out a throw to second on a grounder from Ryan Leitch that allowed the second run of the inning to score.
The Threshers' lead was short-lived, as Lakeland added three runs on a double and a two-run homer in the top of the second to take a 4-2 lead. The Flying Tigers added three more runs in the fourth to extend their lead to 7-2. An inside-the-park home run by Jim Jarvis in the fifth added two more runs to make it a 9-2 lead for Lakeland.
Bryan Rincon reached on a one-out single in the home half of the fifth and was ruled out on a fielder's choice that allowed Rosario to reach first. He moved to second on a Reyes single and scored on Zach Arnold's first hit as a Thresher, cutting the deficit to 9-3.
The first two batters of the sixth reached for Clearwater, beginning with a leadoff walk to Jordan Viars. Troy Schreffler singled off Lakeland reliever Jesus Cruz and was called out on a fielder's choice from Bergolla. Crawford plated Viars from third on a single up the middle to chip away at the deficit and make it 9-4.
Lakeland added a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to bring their lead back up to six at 10-4. Arnold led off the ninth with a walk and Viars picked up a single with one out off Lakeland reliever Quinn Gudaitis. Bergolla loaded the bases on another walk with two outs. Crawford took a 1-1 pitch to right field for a grand slam that cut the Flying Tigers lead down to two, but Rincon grounded out to end the game as Lakeland won 10-8.
Christian McGowan allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Jaydenn Estanista surrendered three runs on three hits with four strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work. Yoniel Ramirez tossed 2.1 innings with three runs allowed on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Daniel Harper allowed one hit in a scoreless 1.2 innings without a walk or a strikeout. Nathan Karaffa allowed two hits in a scoreless ninth.
Reyes became the first Thresher to reach 50 RBIs in 2023 with a single in the first...Crawford joined him with his 50th RBI in the sixth...He tied the Threshers mark for most RBIs in a game with five...His ninth-inning grand slam was the fifth hit by the Threshers this season...Arnold's first hit as a Thresher was an RBI single in the fifth...Schreffler recorded his fifth multi-hit game of the season...The Threshers conclude their six-game series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Sunday, August 6 at BayCare Ballpark... First pitch is at 12:00 pm... You can purchase tickets for Threshers games at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.
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