Numata Knocks Career-High 4 Hits in Loss
Published on April 29, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Chace Numata delivered a career-high four hits on Friday, but Mike Gerber's grand slam helped lift the Lakeland Flying Tigers as Clearwater suffered an 11-4 loss in the series opener at Bright House Field.
The loss snapped a seven-game home winning streak at Bright House Field, and was the first time Clearwater (15-7) permitted more than five runs in any game since the home opener on April 8th.
Numata doubled twice, knocked home a run, and finished 4-for-4 to lead the offense on Friday. Clearwater's bats came alive in the ninth inning against Johan Belisario, after he and starter Tyler Alexander (1-3) had held the Threshers scoreless through the first eight frames.
Cord Sandberg walked to start the inning, the 11th-straight game in which Sandberg has reached safely.
With one down, Kyle Martin crushed a no-doubt blast well beyond the wall in right, breaking up the shutout with his fifth home run of the season. The two-run bomb upped his RBI total to 20, which leads the Florida State League.
Martin finished 2-for-4, and has reached base in 15 consecutive games.
Mitch Walding followed by shooting a triple through the left-centerfield gap, and Zach Green brought him in with a single. Numata later added a two-bagger to right-center to plate Green.
Ranfi Casimiro (3-1) held the Flying Tigers off the board through the first two innings before a leadoff walk to Grayson Greiner opened the third.
Ross Kivett and AJ Simcox both reached on one-out infield hits to load the bases, and Gerber got Lakeland (11-11) on the board with a single to left.
That run was the first surrendered by Casimiro since his first inning of the season on April 9. It snapped a streak of 17.1 consecutive scoreless innings by the Threshers right-hander.
Casimiro would ultimately permit four runs - three earned - on four hits and a season-high four walks in his four innings, collecting five strikeouts.
Michael Mariot joined the Threshers on a rehab assignment, and would be charged with six runs on six hits in 1.1 innings. The big blow came in the sixth, when Gerber unloaded a grand slam to open up a ten-run lead for Lakeland.
The teams will be back at it on Saturday, with first pitch set for 6:15 p.m. Lefty Elniery Garcia (2-0) takes the hill for the Threshers against Lakeland southpaw Jairo Labourt (1-0). The game can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network beginning at 6 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from April 29, 2016
- Tortugas in Seventh Heaven Friday Night - Daytona Tortugas
- Numata Knocks Career-High 4 Hits in Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- Punchless in Port Charlotte - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Marauders Pound Jupiter 10-0 - Bradenton Marauders
- Early Runs Power Cardinals Past Mets, 3-1 - St. Lucie Mets
- Steele Sharp in 5-0 Miracle Shutout of Charlotte - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Flying Tigers Return Home to Henley Field Monday for Dollar Monday - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Dingers Fly, Crabs Crush Mets - Charlotte Stone Crabs
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