Pujols Cranks 18th Homer, Threshers Drop Suspended Game
July 29, 2018 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
LAKELAND, Fla. - Jose Pujols homered for the fourth time in five games, but the Lakeland Flying Tigers broke a two-all tie with a pair in the bottom of the eighth to top the Threshers in the resumption of Saturday's suspended game, 4-2 on Sunday morning.
Pujols ranks third in the league with 18 homers, and is now just one short of tying the Threshers single-season high set by Art Charles in 2014, and matched by Kyle Martin in 2016. Pujols is just five away from the all-time Clearwater single-season record of 23, held by Ryan Howard (2003).
The teams remained scoreless through the first three innings on Saturday, as Andrew Brown retired the first seven he faced for Clearwater, and Anthony Castro set down the first nine.
Lakeland (20-14) (56-48) broke onto the board in the bottom of the fourth, after Dylan Burdeaux ripped a triple to left-center to lead off the frame. Brown got Daniel Pinero to pop out to first, but Troy Montgomery singled through the right side of the drawn-in infield to plate Burdeaux with the game's first run.
Cole Peterson followed with a double, but after Pujols came up with a strong throw in toward second, Arquimedes Gamboa's relay to the plate was in time to nab Montgomery.
Pujols quickly brought it back even in the fifth, when he jumped on a 1-1 pitch from Castro and clobbered a no-doubter to the far reaches of the berm beyond the left field fence.
One out later the game entered an hour and a half delay, and was subsequently suspended.
The contest resumed at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, and the Threshers (21-14) (53-50) broke the tie in the sixth when Jose Gomez led off with a triple to right and scored on Gamboa's grounder to first.
Lakeland again pulled even in the bottom half against reliever Grant Dyer. With a man on and two outs, Montgomery singled through the right side, and Peterson pulled a grounder just to the right of Kyle Martin at first to score AJ Simcox and tie the game at two.
Peterson struck again to give Lakeland the lead in the eighth. With runners at second and third and the infield in, Peterson battled Jakob Hernandez (3-1) through a 12-pitch at-bat before bouncing a soft grounder to first. Martin fielded and fired home, but Daniel Pinero got around the tag from catcher Edgar Cabral to score the go-ahead run.
Jose Azocar followed with a deep fly to center, which Mickey Moniak caught with his back to the infield, but Montgomery tagged and scored from third to make it 4-2.
The Threshers and Flying Tigers wrap up the four-game set on Sunday with a 1:25 p.m. first pitch. Alejandro Requena takes the hill against Gregory Soto in the seven innings contest.
Florida State League Stories from July 29, 2018
- Miracle Win Seesaw Affair Over Daytona, 8-6 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Stone Crabs Mash Way to Series Win - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Flying Tigers vs. Threshers Game Cancelled - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Thompson-Williams Hits Walk-Off Single; Tampa Beats Palm Beach, 1-0 - Tampa Tarpons
- Stone Crabs Cruise to 10-2 Win over Mets - St. Lucie Mets
- Pujols Cranks 18th Homer, Threshers Drop Suspended Game - Clearwater Threshers
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