Florida Takes Opener, Falls Short In Game Two

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (May 23, 2017) - The Florida Fire Frogs and Clearwater Threshers resumed the series opener on Tuesday night, and followed the contest with a seven-inning match at Osceola County Stadium, with Florida taking game one, 10-4, but dropping the night cap, 3-1.

Trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning against Cole Irvin (3-5), Florida (20-26) barraged the left-hander with six runs on six hits and two walks to pull ahead by two.
Tyler Neslony (1x5, RBI) bounced out to first to start the inning, but the Fire Frogs started to move the line right after that en route to the six-run frame.
Austin Riley (2x3, 3 R, HR, RBI, BB) drew a free pass in front of Braxton Davidson's (2x5, 2 R, 2B, RBI) single, and Jonathan Morales (2x4) reached on an infield single to load the bases. Ray-Patrick Didder (2x3, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI, BB) drove in a run on a fielder's choice for the first run of the game for Florida to make the deficit three. Alay Lago (1x4, R, 2 RBI) dropped a single into center, scoring Davidson to cut the Threshers' lead in half.
Alejandro Salazar (2x2, R, 2 BB) drew the second walk of the inning to load the bags again, and Anfernee Seymour (2x5, R, 2 RBI) singled home two to tie the game at four. Omar Obregon (1x5, 2B, RBI) extended his hitting streak to seven with an RBI double to left, plating Salazar to take a 5-4 lead. Neslony followed by ripping a single into right, scoring Seymour for the insurance run to make it 6-4.
Florida added three more runs in the seventh to blow the game open against Clearwater (25-21). Riley drew a leadoff walk against Matt Hockenberry and scored on the next pitch when Davidson cranked a double to the wall in center to give the Fire Frogs a three-run lead.
Two batters later, Didder smacked a triple to left, plating Davidson for the eighth run of the game for the home team. Lago brought the runner home from third with a ground out to short.
Riley tagged a solo shot over the wall in left-center to complete the scoring for Florida in the opener.
Jacob Webb (2-0) took over on the mound in the resumed game on Tuesday night. The right-handed reliever shut out the Threshers over a season-high 3.2 innings of work, while scattering three hits, walking a man, and striking out three.
Corbin Clouse tossed the final two frames, allowing just a hit while surrendering two walks, but picking up three punchouts in the process.
Florida went for the daily sweep over Clearwater shortly after the completion of the first game, but Ricardo Sánchez (2-5) suffered the loss, despite the quality start.
Deivi Grullon took the 20-year-old left hander deep over the wall in left to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The lead deficit did not last long, as Davidson (1x3, R, HR, RBI) crushed a ball 411 ft. to straightaway center to knot the game at one apiece.
Sanchez allowed another solo homer in the fifth inning, this time coming off the bat of Jan Hernandez for his eighth blast of the season. The Philadelphia Phillies High-A affiliate added another run off the left-hander in the sixth with an RBI single from Damek Tomscha to put Florida behind by two.
The native of Venezuela surrendered the three runs in the losing effort on five hits, two walks, and tied a season-high with eight strikeouts.
Devan Watts tossed a perfect seventh, striking out all three batters he faced.
Ranfi Casimiro (2-1) earned the win in game two, as the 6'8" hurler blanked Florida over four innings on three hits, a walk and five strikeouts. Luke Leftwich earned the save by striking out the side in the final frame.
Florida will look to pull back ahead in the four-game series in game three on Wednesday night at Osceola County Stadium. RHP Touki Toussaint (1-5, 6.92) searches for his first win since April 10 for Florida, while Clearwater will send out RHP Alberto Tirado (2-3, 4.86). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:50 p.m. on the Florida Fire Frogs Broadcasting Network.
Game three will feature Wine(d) Up Wednesday at the ballpark, where fans can enjoy $3 cups of wine at Osceola County Stadium. Wednesday will also be Service Industry Night at the ballpark, where members of the service industry will be able to purchase tickets at a discounted rate.
About the Florida Fire Frogs
The Florida Fire Frogs are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and compete in the Florida State League. The Fire Frogs play their home games at Osceola County Stadium, located at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. For more information, please visit www.FloridaFireFrogs.com, and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.