CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers rallied late in the season finale to take down the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 3-1, and finished off a four-game sweep at Spectrum Field on Thursday night. The Philadelphia Phillies' affiliate wrapped up the 2019 campaign a record of 68-68.
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers rallied late in the season finale to take down the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 3-1, and finished off a four-game sweep at Spectrum Field on Thursday night. The Philadelphia Phillies' affiliate wrapped up the 2019 campaign a record of 68-68.
The offense got things rolling for the Threshers (68-68, 32-38) in the first against Tom de Blok (2-13). With one away, Raul Rivas drove a double to left to put a runner in scoring position. After Jhailyn Oritz was retired, Luke Miller laced an RBI single to left to put Clearwater ahead 1-0.
Kyle Glogoski ran into trouble in the second after issuing three walks with one out to load the bases. The 20-year-old struck out Nick Ames and Jon Rosoff to get out of the jam and keep the Threshers in the lead.
The bullpen picked up where Glogoski left off, as Kyle Arjona entered and pitched three scoreless frames with three strikeouts. The right-hander did not allow a run in five frames against the Detroit Tigers' affiliate this season.
In the sixth, the relief pitchers faced a rally from the Lakeland (65-70, 36-34) offense.
Brock Deatherage led off the frame with a triple down the right-field line and set the table for Reece Hampton. MLB rehabber Edubray Ramos missed wide against Hampton and allowed Deatherage to score to even the game at one. Ramos got the next two outs before walking Dylan Rosa to keep the frame alive. The right-hander struck out A.J. Simcox to prevent further trouble and keep the game tied.
The Threshers' offense found a way to break through against de Blok and the Flying Tigers' pitching staff in the seventh. Matt Vierling doubled to left with one out before Rafael Marchan flew out to center for the second out. Tom de Blok exited the game and Ethan DeCaster entered to finish of the frame. The right-hander left a pitch over the plate to Matt Kroon, who drilled a go-ahead triple to right to give Clearwater a 2-1 edge. Daniel Brito added to the advantage on the first pitch of the next at-bat with a single to score Kroon to push the lead to 3-1.
Kroon played just two games in the four-game set and went 5-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI. The Oklahoma State product finished the 2019 season with four home runs and 24 RBI.
Michael Gomez (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth with two hits allowed and four strikeouts. The reliver matched a season high in strikeouts in the outing and set the table for Zach Warren (SV, 7) to finish off the four-game sweep in the ninth.
Warren opened the frame with a strikeout but allowed a single to Brady Policelli before Bryant Packard flew out to center to put Lakeland down to its last out. Warren walked Ames and hit Jon Rosoff to load the bases and set up Brock Deatherage with a chance to tie the game.
The left-hand batter grounded out on the first pitch to second to end the game and help Clearwater complete the four-game sweep to close out the 2019 campaign. Warren earned a seventh save in 10 tries while picking up a bullpen- high 80 strikeouts.
The Threshers won four consecutive games at home for the first time in 2019 with the sweep. The club improved to 10-5 against the Detroit Tigers' affiliate overall and 7-1 against the team at Spectrum Field. Clearwater finished the 2019 home slate 32-38 and 37-36 against teams from the Florida State League North division.
