Rodriguez's Career Night Launches Threshers to 7-5
Published on April 26, 2017 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - Herlis Rodriguez set career-highs in hits and RBIs on Wednesday night, launching the Threshers to a 7-5 victory over the Tampa Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Rodriguez finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs, including a double, home run, and two runs scored. His two-run shot in the eighth inning ended up being the difference-maker. The Threshers outfielder is now batting .364 with 10 RBIs in his 15 games.
The Threshers pounded out a season-high 16 hits on their way to improving to a league-best 14-6.
Clearwater grabbed a quick lead in the first, after Mark Laird and Rodriguez both singled on the first two pitches of the ballgame.
After a fielder's choice, Wilson Garcia hit a high chopper back to pitcher Domingo Acevedo (0-3), allowing Laird to score from third with the night's first run.
Two innings later, Laird and Rodriguez would cross the plate on Damek Tomscha's single up the middle, extending the lead to 3-0.
The Yankees (8-12) grabbed a run off Jose Taveras in the third on a Chris Gittens sacrifice fly, but Taveras held the Tampa offense at bay in his six innings for the win. The right-hander allowed just two runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out five.
Rodriguez's two-run single in the sixth inning made it 5-1, but Tampa awoke offensively in the latter innings. The Yankees inched closer with a Trey Amburgey sac fly in the sixth, and a Didi Gregorius RBI single in the seventh to make it 5-3. Gregorius went 2-for-4 with a walk and a steal playing in his fifth rehab game.
It was Rodriguez's blast in the eighth inning that brought home the decisive runs.
After Laird opened the inning with a single, Rodriguez knocked a 1-1 offering from reliever Cody Carroll over the wall in right for his fourth home run of the season, expanding the lead to 7-3.
The Yankees answered with a two-run home run from Austin Aune off Edgar Garcia in the bottom of the eighth, and Jorge Mateo singled to bring the tying run to the plate. The Threshers summoned Jeff Singer, who walked Gregorius, but got Tito Polo to ground out to second to end the inning.
Singer hurled a perfect ninth inning, locking down his league-leading fifth save in as many tries.
The series wraps up on Thursday at 7 p.m., as Franklyn Kilome (1-1) gets the nod opposed by lefty Ian Clarkin (0-0). The game will be broadcast live on threshersbaseball.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from April 26, 2017
- Rodriguez's Career Night Launches Threshers to 7-5 - Clearwater Threshers
- Aint No LaValley Low Enough in 6-4 Win - Daytona Tortugas
- Stone Crabs' Four-Run Sixth Inning the Difference - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- T-Yanks Fall to Threshers in Hit Parade, 7-5 - Tampa Yankees
- Mets Win Thriller 8-7 vs. Lakeland to Snap Losing Skid - St. Lucie Mets
- Marauders Drop 16 on Miracle in Game Two - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Marauders Meet Miracle Wednesday Night - Bradenton Marauders
- Hammerheads Down Tortugas 8-3 - Jupiter Hammerheads
- Jupiter Hammers Daytona, 8-3 - Daytona Tortugas
- Cronenworth Extends Hitting Streak to 19 in 10-3 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Miracle Battle in Back-And-Forth Contest to Earn Win - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
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