Leftwich Deals, Threshers Hang on for 3-2 Win
Published on August 18, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - Luke Leftwich turned in his strongest outing in a Threshers uniform on Thursday, and the Clearwater bullpen held on to squeeze out a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Yankees in the finale of the season series at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Clearwater (33-21) took the four-game set three to one, as the two teams split the season series down the middle at nine apiece.
Jiandido Tromp's two-run triple in the third inning keyed the offense for Clearwater in the win, as Tromp wrapped up a big series, going 8-for-15 (.533) including two doubles, a triple, three RBIs, and four runs scored across four games.
The Yankees (28-26) threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning, putting the first two men on base after a Kevin Cornelius single and Connor Spencer walk.
Matt Hockenberry struck out Devyn Bolasky on a 3-2 pitch, and Wes Wilson rolled a slow grounder to the left of the pitcher's mound, which Hockenberry pounced on and tossed to first to secure the second out. That put the tying run at third, and the winning run in scoring position.
After falling behind in the count, the Threshers elected to put Jorge Mateo aboard intentionally to load the bases. Hockenberry got ahead of Jeff Hendrix, and induced a chopper back of third which Derek Campbell took care of cleanly onto first to lock down the final out and the Threshers victory.
The Yankees plated the game's first run on Thursday after three straight hits against Leftwich, but from there the right-hander settled in to deliver his longest outing in a Threshers uniform.
Following Thairo Estrada's RBI single, Leftwich retired 12 consecutive batters from the first inning into the fifth.
Leftwich (3-3) would be charged with just a run on five hits and a walk across his 6.1 innings, recording four strikeouts. He exited following a walk to Cornelius, having thrown 83 pitches, 61 for strikes.
Jeff Singer entered and unleashed an errant pickoff move to advance Cornelius to second, but settled in to induce a pair of flyouts to end the inning unscathed.
All three of Clearwater's runs came in the third inning facing starter Domingo German (0-2).
Malquin Canelo led off with a single, and with one out Zach Coppola dropped down a bunt which was thrown away by German, advancing both runner into scoring position.
Tromp followed by lacing a triple to deep center to bring home both runners and give the Threshers the lead. Carlos Tocci's sacrifice fly on the next pitch plated Tromp, putting Clearwater up 3-1.
The Threshers return to Bright House Field on Friday to open a big three-game series with the Daytona Tortugas, with first pitch at 6:15 p.m. Elniery Garcia (10-3) will take the hill in game one, and the game will be broadcast live on threshersbaseball.com and the TuneIn app starting at 6 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from August 18, 2016
- Leftwich Deals, Threshers Hang on for 3-2 Win - Clearwater Threshers
- Crabs Destroy Sharks, Sweep into First - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Mets Bats Go Quietly in 1-0 Loss to Fort Myers - St. Lucie Mets
- Cornelius Homers in 6-3 Loss to Clearwater - Tampa Yankees
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