Viza K's Career-High 11 in Win
May 1, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Tyler Viza struck out a career-high 11 batters on Sunday afternoon, leading the way to a 4-2 win in the series finale over the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Bright House Field.
Viza improved to a perfect 4-0, limiting Lakeland (12-12) to just one run on four hits across a season-high 6.1 innings.
The 21-year old right-hander cut down 11 Flying Tigers on strikes, including eight of the swinging variety. The only run he permitted was Christin Stewart's league-leading eighth home run of the season, an opposite-field homer that came in the fourth.
Viza has not allowed more than one run in any of his last three starts, posting a 1.14 ERA through his first four games at the High-A level.
Malquin Canelo hit his first home run of the season, tagging the ball well all three times up in a 2-for-3 performance.
The Threshers (16-8) grabbed their first lead of the series in the third inning.
Canelo led off by lining a single to left, and Herlis Rodriguez moved him over with a sacrifice bunt. Scott Kingery came through to get the Threshers on the board with a single up the middle to score Canelo, giving Clearwater the 1-0 lead.
Stewart's homered tied it in the fourth, and that scored held until the Threshers broke out in front in the sixth.
Cord Sandberg dropped down a bunt single to get things going against AJ Ladwig, who entered the day leading the FSL with a 0.78 ERA. Carlos Tocci then dropped a single to center, setting up men at the corners with just one out.
With Kyle Martin at the plate, Tocci swiped second base, taking away the conventional double play after his fourth steal of the year. Martin pulled a ground ball to first that permitted Sandberg to score, putting the Threshers back out in front.
Mitch Walding lifted a fly ball into left that continued to carry on the leftfielder Stewart, who misplayed it for a two-base error. Tocci scored on the play to make it 3-1.
Lakeland put the tying run on against Viza in the sixth, and Victor Arano entered in relief with one down and men at first and second. Arano struck out Grayson Greiner on a 3-2 pitch that scraped the bottom of the zone, and Ben Verlander was called out on strikes due to a batter's box violation to end the inning.
Canelo turned on a 2-2 offering in the sixth inning, sending one into the bullpen for his first longball of the season.
Alexis Rivero surrendered a solo homer to Joey Pancake in the ninth - the only run he has allowed this year - but retired the final three men he faced to earn his second save.
The Threshers will battle the Tampa Yankees for six games starting on Monday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, with first pitch at 7 p.m. Will Morris (1-1) toes the rubber opposed by Joey Maher (1-0). The game can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network beginning at 6:45 p.m.
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Florida State League Stories from May 1, 2016
- Miracle Drop Second Straight 2-1 Decision to Charlotte - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Viza K's Career-High 11 in Win - Clearwater Threshers
- Mets Rebound with 5-4 over Cardinals - St. Lucie Mets
- T-Yanks Split Twin-Bill with Walk-Off Win - Tampa Yankees
- 'Tees Score Late to Beat T-Yanks, 4-2 - Tampa Yankees
- Pitching Stands Tall as Crabs Take Series - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Moss Dominates, Crabs Overcome Miracle - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Marauders Fall 2-1 - Bradenton Marauders
- T-Yanks Split Twin-Bill with Walk-Off Win - Tampa Yankees
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