Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: August 17, 2018
Published on August 17, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Florida Fire Frogs News Release
TODAY'S GAME: Game one of a three-game series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers (DET) from Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium...Game five of a seven-game road trip against the St. Lucie Mets and Flying Tigers (2-2)...Florida is coming off a four-game series split against St. Lucie at First Data Field, taking the opener and finale...Third of four series (13 games) between Florida and Lakeland in 2018, with Florida trailing the series 3-4...The Fire Frogs split a four-game set in Lakeland from April 26-29.
TODAY'S STARTING PITCHER: 23-year-old Connor Johnstone takes the mound in the opener of the three-game, weekend set against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Friday night...The right-hander last pitched for Florida on Aug. 6, shutting out the Palm Beach Cardinals on three hits and five strikeouts through five innings in the 3-2 Fire Frogs' loss...The Wake Forest product is coming back from a spot start with the Gwinnett Stripers (AAA) on Aug. 11, surrendering two runs on three hits, two walks and three punchouts across five frames against the Syracuse Chiefs...Friday will be Johnstone's first career appearance against Lakeland.
FLORIDA HANGS ON FOR SERIES SPLIT: The Florida Fire Frogs earned a four-game series split by taking the finale against the St. Lucie Mets at First Data Field, 4-0. Walter Borkovich fired in six shutout frames, while the combination of Sean McLaughlin and Chase Johnson-Mullins scattered five hits through the final three innings to hang of for Florida's ninth shutout of the season.
Jordan Rodgers added onto a 2-0 lead with a two-out, bases-loaded single in the sixth for his second hit of the night.
MAKING SPARTY PROUD: Walter Borkovich was outstanding, once again, for the Fire Frogs on Thursday night...The Michigan State product scattered five hits and struck out four across six scoreless innings for his second consecutive quality start...The 23-year-old has yet to surrender a run through his first three career starts (all at the High-A level) in 17 innings of work, and has not issued any free passes during his time in the Florida State League.
BOTTOM'S UP!: The trio of Jordan Rodgers, Garrison Schwartz and Marcus Mooney combined for six of the Florida's 10 hits in the finale...All three batters had two hits apiece, with Rodgers scoring a run and driving home two...Mooney crossed the plate once out of the final spot of the order.
JUMPING IN THE SHOW: Former Florida starter Touki Toussaint made his big league debut with the Atlanta Braves on Monday afternoon against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park, earning the win with one runs allowed on two hits, two walks and four strikeouts in game one of the twin bill...The Braves seventh-ranked prospect (MLB.com) became the sixth Fire Frog to make it to the show, joining LHP A.J. Minter, LHP Luiz Gohara, LHP Adam McCreery, RHP Chad Sobotka and OF Ronald Acuna...The 22-year-old holds the Fire Frogs record for most strikeouts in a season, posting 123 in 2017.
BUILDING THE PIPELINE: MLB Pipeline revealed its updated prospect rankings, and nine Atlanta Braves farmhands cracked the top-100...Of the nine, seven either currenlty played, or have previously played for the Fire Frogs: Kyle Wright (24), Ian Anderson (38), Austin Riley (43), Cristian Pache (57), Luiz Gohara (61), Touki Toussaint (76), and Drew Waters (98).
Florida State League Stories from August 17, 2018
- Marauders Break 10 Game Losing Streak with 7-0 Victory - Bradenton Marauders
- Tarpons Walk-Off in Extras Friday Night - Daytona Tortugas
- Dunedin Falls 2-1 to Mets in Fifth Straight Loss - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Sammons, Lewis Help Miracle Clip Clearwater, 3-2 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Moniak Homers in 3-2 Loss to Miracle - Clearwater Threshers
- Castillo Delivers Walk-Off Single in the 10th; Bullpen Shuts Down Daytona in 3-2 Win - Tampa Tarpons
- Stone Crabs Walk Way to 5-4 Comeback Win - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Mets Hang on to Beat Blue Jays 2-1 - St. Lucie Mets
- Johnstone's Quality Start Not Enough in Series-Opening Loss - Florida Fire Frogs
- Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: at Daytona - Tampa Tarpons
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: August 17, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
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