Flying Tigers Trip Threshers 7-4
Published on April 21, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
LAKELAND, FL. (Sunday, April 21) - The Clearwater Threshers failed to maintain a four-run lead late in the game, falling to the host Lakeland Flying Tigers in front of a crowd of 509 fans at Joker Marchant Stadium on Sunday.
The Threshers (8-9) allowed five runs in the bottom of the seventh and two more in the bottom of the eighth to let Lakeland (5-12) surge ahead for good. The blown lead wasted a splendid start from Clearwater righty Perci Garner, who tossed six shutout innings before things unraveled for the Threshers.
Clearwater kicked off the scoring in the top of the first inning. Second baseman Carlos Alonso was hit by a pitch from Lakeland starter Drew VerHagen, and moved to second on a single by left fielder Cameron Perkins. A fly out to right field by third baseman Maikel Franco allowed Alonso to reach third. Right fielder Delmon Young, down on a rehab assignment as he moves closer to joining the Phillies, lofted one to right for a sacrifice fly that scored Alonso and made it 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
The Threshers added a run in the top of the fourth. Center fielder Aaron Altherr hammered a two-out double off the left-field wall to put himself in scoring position. Designated hitter Harold Martinez slashed a hard grounder to shortstop Eugenio Suarez, who played it off his hands into center field. Altherr sped around and scored on the play, making it a 2-0 lead for the Threshers.
Clearwater extended its lead further in the top of the fifth. Shortstop Jose Mojica drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to second when Alonso dropped a perfect bunt along the third-base line for an infield single. Perkins laid down his own sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out, and Franco ripped a double to left-center field to plate both Franco and Alonso, running the Clearwater lead to 4-0.
The Flying Tigers turned the tables in the bottom of the seventh inning. With Clearwater reliever Mike Nesseth (0-1) on in place of Garner, Jason Krizan led off with a single to right. A single from Luis Sanz advanced Krizan to third base when Young misplayed the ball in right field for an error. After Altherr made a terrific catch on a fly ball to center from Brandon Loy to hold the runners, Suarez singled through the left side, plating Krizan and moving Sanz to second base. Chad Wright hit his own single to left to score Sanz, with Suarez racing to third when catcher Josh Ludy threw errantly on the play. Wright swiped second with Aaron Westlake at the plate. Westlake then singled home Suarez, with Wright taking third on the hit.
Clearwater manager Chris Truby brought in Colton Murray to relieve Nesseth, but Murray allowed Dean Green to single up the middle. Wright scored, and Westlake moved to second on the play. Jeff McVaney then singled to load the bases, and Jason King lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Westlake and giving the Flying Tigers the 5-4 lead.
Lakeland bolstered their advantage in the eighth inning. Sanz drew a leadoff walk, and moved to second on a wild pitch with two outs. Wright doubled to left to bring him home, and scored when Westlake poked a single through the right side. Lakeland exited the eighth with the final 7-4 lead, and the Threshers went down in order in the ninth inning to end the game.
Garner tossed six scoreless frames, allowing three hits and four walks while fanning three. Nesseth took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits while recording just one out. Murray surrendered a pair of runs on four hits and a walk against a strikeout in 1.2 innings.
VerHagen allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out two in 4.2 innings before exiting after Chris Serritella lined a pitch back off him. Nick Avila (1-0) earned the win with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, giving up three hits and two walks but no runs while striking out one. Melvin Mercedes earned his third save with 1.2 perfect innings and a strikeout.
The Threshers will try to even the score Monday when lefty Ethan Stewart takes the ball for Clearwater against Lakeland right-hander Wilsen Palacios. Game time at Joker Marchant Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with Ben Gellman's presume show beginning at 6:15 on ThreshersBaseball.com.
Florida State League Stories from April 21, 2013
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- Cardinals Edge Miracle, 6-5, in 10 Innings - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Flying Tigers Trip Threshers 7-4 - Clearwater Threshers
- Missed Chances Plague Hammerheads In Extra-Innings Loss - Jupiter Hammerheads
- 'Tees Topped Again by Threshers - Brevard County Manatees
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