Viars Slugs and Castellano Ks but Threshers Drop Series

WP: Max Alba (4-5, 4.57)

LP: Estibenzon Jiménez (3-5, 3.76)

BOX SCORE:

CLEARWATER, FL – Jordan Viars went 2-4 with his 15th double of the season but the Clearwater Threshers (67-34, 23-13) couldn’t overcome a three-homer day from the Lakeland Flying Tigers (51-50, 25-11) in an 8-4 loss on Sunday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark. The Threshers begin a six-game road trip to Tampa to take on the Tarpons on Tuesday evening.

With two doubles and a two-run homer in the third, the Flying Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the top half of the third inning. The Threshers responded in the home half of the third, beginning with a Jordan Viars leadoff single of Lakeland starter Jake Miller. Viars was recorded out at second on a fielder’s choice by Ricardo Rosario, who promptly stole second base. Emaarion Boyd drove him home with a single to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Lakeland added two more runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to bring their lead up to 8-1. Ty Penner led off the bottom of the fifth with a single off newly entered Lakeland reliever Cleivirth Perez. A fielder’s choice and a single by Boyd moved Penner to third, and he scored on an RBI single by Jordan Dissin to bring Lakeland’s lead down to 8-2.

Bryson Ware drew a walk and Chad Castillo singled off Lakeland reliever Chris Mauloni to start the sixth inning. Viars plated them both with a two-run double to cut the deficit to 8-4. Both teams combined for four hits in the final three innings as the Threshers dropped the series final 8-4.

Estibenzon Jiménez allowed five runs on six hits with three walks in 3.2 innings. Braeden Fausnaught allowed three runs on two hits with three walks and one strikeout in 2.1 innings. Eiberson Castellano dealt 3.0 shutout innings with one walk, three hits, and six strikeouts.

Castellano had 12 strikeouts in his two games against Lakeland this week...Viars drove in multiple runs for the fourth time this season...He is now tied for the team lead with 15 doubles...Moore extended his on-base streak to 17-straight games...Arnold had a hit in each of his first two games with the Threshers...The Threshers begin a six-game series on the road against the Tampa Tarpons on Tuesday, August 8 at Steinbrenner Field... First pitch is at 6:30 pm... You can purchase tickets for Threshers games at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.