Late Surge Falls Short in 17-11 Loss
Published on May 5, 2017 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers surged for six runs in the ninth inning on Friday, but could not overcome a large early deficit in dropping the series opener to the Florida Fire Frogs, 17-11 at Osceola County Stadium. Drew Stankiewicz tallied a season-high four hits including a two-run home run as part of the Threshers six-run ninth. Clearwater (18-11) set a season-high with 11 runs and matched a season-most with 16 hits in defeat. It was all Fire Frogs early on, as Florida (14-15) exploded for nine runs off starter Alberto Tirado in the first inning. Austin Riley, Braxton Davidson, and Wigberto Nevarez all went yard for Florida in the first. Clearwater got on the board in the third. Damek Tomscha launched a payoff pitch from Ricardo Sanchez (2-3) out to right for an opposite-field home run, and his fifth long ball of the season. Florida poured on three more on an Alex Jackson homer in the third, before Jose Pujols squared one up in the fourth. His first home run of the season was a no-doubt shot to left-center that made it a 12-2 game. The Fire Frogs stayed hot in the fourth, putting up four unearned runs against reliever Ranfi Casimiro. Clearwater got a few back two innings later against reliever Carlos Salazar, after a dropped pop up opened the door for a three-run sixth. Zach Coppola walked with the bases loaded, and Cornelius Randolph singled home a pair to move it to 16-5. Luke Leftwich settled things down through his 2.1 innings of relief, holding Florida off the board while picking up five strikeouts. Florida added another unearned run in the seventh off Matt Hockenberry, when Jackson scored on an error on third baseman Jan Hernandez. Down 17-5 in the eighth, the Threshers called upon catcher Austin Bossart to take the mound in relief. Bossart induced a pop up and struck out Tyler Neslony looking, before Ronald Acuna knocked a single to right. Bossart then got Jackson to fly out to center to end the frame. It was the first time a position player has pitched for the Threshers since infielder Angelo Mora took the mound in the eighth inning against the Tampa Yankees on April 20, 2015, and the first appearance as a pitcher in Bossart's professional career. Clearwater kicked it into gear in the ninth inning, when six-straight reached against Taylor Lewis to open the frame. Coppola got it going with a single, and Randolph doubled him home to pick up his third RBI of the night. Tomscha drew a walk, and Wilson Garcia singled on a liner off Lewis that caromed into center and loaded the bases. Pujols kept the wheel turning with an RBI single through the left side, and Grullon added one of his own to bring it to 17-8. Pujols grounded into a double play, but that pushed home Garcia with Clearwater's ninth run. Stankiewicz then launched a two-run home run to right, making it 17-11 on his second round-tripper of the year. Emmanuel Marrero added a double, and Coppola beat out an infield single before Florida called in Corbin Clouse to take over. Clouse induced a line out to left from Randolph to end the ballgame. Game two of the series takes place on Saturday at 7:05 p.m., as Blake Quinn (0-1) takes the hill against Touki Toussaint (1-2). The game will be broadcast live on threshersbaseball.com beginning at 6:50 p.m.
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