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FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Martin Lifts Threshers in 10-Inning Win

May 27, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


LAKELAND, Fla. - Kyle Martin's solo home run in the top of the tenth inning served as the deciding factor on Friday night, as the Clearwater Threshers bested the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 2-1 in ten innings in the series opener at Henley Field.

Martin's bomb was his eighth of the season, good for the second-most in the Florida State League. The drive opened the inning against reliever Adam Ravenelle (2-1), and broke a one-all tie that had stood since the fifth inning.

It was a pitcher's duel from the start.

Tyler Alexander struck out the side for the Flying Tigers (26-22) in the opening half inning, kicking off a string of five straight strikeouts to begin his outing.

Not to be outdone, Tyler Viza worked around a one-out single to record three strikeouts of his own in the bottom half of the first, before inducing back-to-back strikeouts in the second.

Clearwater (29-19) broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning.

Gabriel Lino led off the frame by singling through the right side, and Cord Sandberg reached on a fielder's choice that forced out Lino at second. With Derek Campbell at the plate, Sandberg took off for second and slid in safely with the steal, while Grayson Greiner's throw continued into center for an error that allowed Sandberg to move to third.

Alexander induced a big strikeout of Campbell for the second out, but Scott Kingery came through with two down.

The Florida State League's leading doubles man drove a deep fly to left-center that bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double, scoring Sandberg with the game's first run. The two-bagger was Kingery's 19th of the season.

Lakeland was quick to tie it, as Joey Pancake worked a full count before lifting a solo homer over the wall in right-center, knotting the game up at one.

That would be the only blemish against Viza, who matched his career-high with 11 strikeouts set on May 1 - also against the Flying Tigers. The right-hander did not factor in the decision, but permitted just one run on six hits and did not issue a walk in his six innings.

The teams alternated tossing zeros until the tenth, when Martin belted a 1-1 pitch from Ravenelle, clearing the right-field wall for the difference-maker.

Alexis Rivero (3-1) earned the win with two hitless innings in relief. The right-hander worked around a two-base error on Carlos Tocci in center that put the tying-run in scoring position to start the bottom of the tenth, striking out Wade Hinkle before Ross Kivett walked to put the winning run aboard.

Rivero then induced a comebacker off the bat of AJ Simcox - who had three hits on Friday - and spun it into a double play to end the ballgame.

The Threshers will return to historic Henley Field on Saturday for game two of the series, with first pitch at 6 p.m. Thomas Eshelman (2-2) will take the hill against lefty Jairo Labourt (4-2), and the game can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network beginning at 5:45 p.m.

Check out the Clearwater Threshers Statistics



Florida State League Stories from May 27, 2016


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