Tirado, Leftwich Blank Flying Tigers
Published on April 11, 2017 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
LAKELAND, Fla. - Alberto Tirado and Luke Leftwich teamed up to toss a four-hit shutout, while the Threshers pounded out 10 hits in topping the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 5-0 at Publix Field on Monday night.
Cornelius Randolph turned in his first multi-hit game, while Herlis Rodriguez and Deivi Grullon each collected two hits as well to lead the offense for Clearwater (3-2).
Tirado (1-0) worked around a pair of baserunners in the first, and settled in to permit only three hits across six shutout innings. The Phillies No. 26 prospect issued four walks in his season debut, but kept Lakeland (3-2) off the board while needing just 79 pitches.
Leftwich finished it off, allowing a one-out double in the seventh before retiring eight straight to end the ballgame. The right-hander struck out the side in the ninth and finished with six strikeouts in earning his first career save.
The Threshers took advantage of some defensive miscues to pull ahead early.
After Grullon led off the second with a single, with one out Grenny Cumana sent a potential double play grounder to the hill, but pitcher Matt Hall fired wide of second for an error.
Emmanuel Marrero followed with a swinging bunt grounder toward the third-base side of the hill, which Hall (0-1) fielded but threw wide of home as Grullon crossed the plate. Marrero was credited with an infield single, and moved up to second on the error.
A wild pitch allowed Cumana to score, before Rodriguez walked. Randolph then hit a comebacker that deflected off of Hall and caromed into left. Randolph hustled into second with a double, and Marrero crossed the plate to make it 3-0 Threshers.
An inning later, Grullon and Hernandez knocked back-to-back singles before Cumana reached on a fielder's choice, and Marrero walked to load the bases with one out. Rodriguez grounded to third, resulting in a force of Marrero at second, but Joe Pankake's relay to first was wild allowing the inning to continue as both Hernandez and Cumana crossed the plate.
The series swings over to Clearwater on Tuesday, when the Threshers host the Flying Tigers at 7 p.m. on Dollar Tuesday, presented by Regions Bank. Blake Quinn will make his Threshers debut against Lakeland's Beau Burrows, and the game will be broadcast live on threshersbaseball.com starting at 6:45 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from April 11, 2017
- Stankiewicz, Threshers Rally Past Lakeland, 4-2 - Clearwater Threshers
- Marauders Win in 14 for 6-0 Start - Bradenton Marauders
- Jackie Robinson Night Promotion Featured on MiLB.Com - Daytona Tortugas
- Alvarez, Yankees Beat Miracle in Walk-Off - Tampa Yankees
- Eighth Inning Comeback Falls Short in Stone Crabs' 4-3 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Tirado, Leftwich Blank Flying Tigers - Clearwater Threshers
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