FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Threshers Lose Wild One in 13 Innings

Published on April 18, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER -- The Clearwater Threshers came out on the wrong end of a wild one on Country Night at Bright House Field.

After finding themselves down 7-0 early against Lakeland, the Threshers battled their way back to take the lead, before the Flying Tigers tied it and eventually squeezed across the go-ahead run on a passed ball to hand Clearwater a 9-8 loss on Friday night.

It was a game that lasted over four hours, featuring ten wild pitches and two Threshers fielders playing positions they previously had not in their professional careers.

Knotted up at eight in the 13th inning, the Flying Tigers managed to plate the go-ahead run despite a strong effort from reliever Lee Ridenhour (0-1).

Connor Harrell led off the frame with a single - the only hit Ridenhour would surrender in his three relief innings. After a sac bunt moved Harrell to second, Ridenhour got Austin Green to hit a fly ball to right for the second out of the inning, and the Threshers intentionally walked Curt Powell.

A wild pitch moved both runners up 90 feet and, on a 2-2 pitch, Tyler Hanover swung and missed at a ball down low that squirted away from catcher Deivi Grullon, allowing Harrell to score the game's final run. Grullon was charged with the passed ball.

Clearwater (3-11) faced a tall task early on, as the Flying Tigers (9-6) plated two runs in the third and five in the fourth.

The Threshers would not go down easily. Art Charles stroked a single to right to open the bottom of the fifth, and with two down Anthony Phillips launched his first home run of the year to cut the deficit to 7-2.

The next inning, a pair of walks opened the door for another Threshers' rally. With Brian Pointer and Pete Lavin aboard, Aaron Altherr singled to center to load the bases against Lakeland starter Yorfrank Lopez.

After Slade Smith entered in relief, Harold Matinez grounded a single through the left side to score Pointer. Art Charles then hit a grounder to the hole at short that was knocked down by shortstop Dixon Machado, but the third baseman Powell picked it up and fired wide to second. Charles was credited with a single, which scored Lavin, and Altherr crossed the plate as well on the error. An RBI groundout by Nick Ferdinand then made it a 7-6 ballgame.

The Threshers went ahead an inning later. Angelo Mora singled through the right side to lead off the home half of the seventh, and moved to second on Pointer's sacrifice bunt. Smith unleashed a wild pitch that permitted Mora to scoot into third, and after Lavin drew a walk, another wild pitch allowed Mora to score the game-tying run.

Lavin also advanced to second on the play, and he would race into third when Altherr hit a fly ball out to Jeff McVaney in right. With Martinez batting, yet another wild pitch brought Lavin home to give the Threshers an 8-7 lead.

Jeff Holm was quick to provide an answer for Lakeland, as he opened the eighth inning by driving Kevin Walter's second pitch of the frame over the wall in right to tie the game at eight.

Before the inning began, Phillips was removed from his position at shortstop, and with that the Threshers inserted Justin Parr as the third baseman, with Martinez sliding over to play short.

It was the first time in 261 career games that Martinez served as a shortstop. It was also the first professional appearance for Parr as an infielder.

Jeb Stefan started the game for Clearwater and was charged with six runs - five earned - on nine hits across three innings in his second appearance of the season.

Brennan Smith (2-0) earned the win in relief for Lakeland, holding the Threshers scoreless in two innings.

The Threshers look to salvage game three of the series on Saturday, with Ethan Stewart (0-1) taking the hill against Edgar De La Rosa (0-3). First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game can be heard live on threshersbaseball.com beginning at 6:15 p.m.

Saturday is also Star Wars Night at Bright House Field. Fans are encouraged to dress as their favorite Star Wars characters for a chance to win a private suite at a Threshers game later this season. After the game, a post-game fireworks show will feature Star Wars-themed music.

Check out the Clearwater Threshers Statistics

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Florida State League Stories from April 18, 2014


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