Late Surge Not Enough in 9-6 Loss
Published on May 21, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers brought the tying run to the plate in both the seventh and ninth innings on Saturday, but the Palm Beach Cardinals held them off as Clearwater suffered a 9-6 loss before a crowd of 5,237 at Bright House Field.
Palm Beach (19-24) has taken the first two games of the series over Clearwater (26-15).
The Threshers made a game of it late, after they were faced with a 9-2 deficit heading to the bottom of the seventh.
Jack Flaherty (1-4) was dealing for Palm Beach through six innings, and struck out the first two men to bat in the seventh. Chace Numata then drew a five-pitch walk, and Malquin Canelo reached on an infield hit to signal the end of the night for Flaherty.
Cody Schumacher took over on the hill, and Derek Campbell battled him to a six-pitch at-bat before doubling off the top of the wall in right, scoring both Numata and Canelo to cut into the Cardinals lead.
Scott Kingery followed by pulling a double inside the left field line to score Campbell, making it a 9-5 game. Cord Sandberg brought the Threshers even closer when he dropped an opposite-field single to left, plating Kingery to cut it to a 9-6 deficit and bring the tying run to the plate.
It was Andrew Pullin who had gotten the Threshers on the board in the second inning, unloading his third home run out to right. Pullin has driven in ten runs in his 11 games with the Threshers this year.
With Pullin coming up, the Cardinals again went to the bullpen, this time calling on lefty Chandler Hawkins. The southpaw struck out Pullin swinging on a breaking ball to end the inning.
Clearwater again threatened in the ninth, facing reliever Landon Beck.
Campbell worked a walk to open it, and Kingery pulled a grounder to short for an infield hit, on which shortstop Oscar Mercado threw wildly to second in attempt to get the lead runner, and instead allowed both Campbell and Kingery to move into scoring position on the error.
Beck fell behind Sandberg 3-1, but induced a strike on a breaking ball in a hitter's count, and came back to strike out Sandberg for the first out. Beck then got Tocci and Pullin out swinging to end the ballgame and earn his first save.
Kingery finished with three hits out of the leadoff spot, doubling twice to extend his FSL-leading total to 14. Campbell reached base three times out of the nine-spot, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk.
Clearwater will battle Palm Beach for game three of the four-game set on Sunday, as the Threshers call upon Thomas Eshelman (2-1) to take the hill against Blake McKnight (0-4). First pitch on Sunday Brunch day is set for 1 p.m., and the game can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network starting at 12:45 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from May 21, 2016
- Herget Holds in Ninth - Daytona Tortugas
- Late Surge Not Enough in 9-6 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
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- Mets Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to Daytona - St. Lucie Mets
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