Win Streak Snapped at Six in Wednesday Matinee

CLEARWATER, Fla. - A big fourth inning pushed the Lakeland Flying Tigers past the Clearwater Threshers in a 9-4 loss at Spectrum Field on Wednesday morning in game three of the four-game series. The loss snapped the Threshers' six-game winning streak.

Both teams traded scoreless innings through the first three frames, but Lakeland (15-22) struck first against right-hander Alejandro Requena (2-2) in the fourth. After a walk and a single to put two men on, Nick Ames plated a run with a hit of his own. After a hit-by-pitch from Requena forced in another, Dylan Rosa hit a double with the bases loaded to score three to make it 5-0.
Clearwater (18-20) got a run back in the bottom of the frame when Madison Stokes launched a homer to left field. Stokes' fifth home-run of the season would be the only run the Threshers would score against Lakeland starter Franklin Perez.
Stokes put together a 2-for-4 day with a homer and an RBI to extend his hitting streak to five games.
Perez lasted just four innings in his first start of the season, and allowed four hits and three walks. The Threshers offense would only plate the one run against the No. 3 prospect for the Tigers.
Requena battled for Clearwater in the fifth after another leadoff batter reached. An RBI single from Nick Ames and a sacrifice fly from Brock Deatherage made it a 7-1 lead for the Detriot Tigers' affiliate.
Requena took the loss after finishing with five frames with seven runs allowed. The 22-year-old struck out four and issued two walks on top of seven hits.
Lakeland added a run in the seventh and a run in the eighth to increase the deficit to 9-2. Lakeland reliever Dane Myers (2-4) went four innings for the win and allowed five hits and three runs. Clearwater answered the Flying Tigers' scoring with production from the bottom of the order.
When trailing by six runs Clearwater picked up tallies in the seventh and the eighth off Myers. Daniel Brito laced an RBI double in the seventh and Jhailyn Ortiz crushed a two-run shot over the bullpen in left that made the score 9-4. The No. 11 prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies hit his second homer of the season.
The Threshers again made a bid for a comeback in the ninth when Daniel Brito hit a one-out single but the next two batters were retired to end the game.
Clearwater looks to take the finale of the four-game series against Lakeland on Thursday night at Spectrum Field. It is yet to be determined who will toe the rubber for the Threshers against Flying Tigers' LHP Tarik Skubal. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. on threshersbaseball.com.
The contest will feature Taps and Tacos presented by Tijuana Flats. It includes half price beverages as well as food from the Tijuana Flats cart in left field. The Threshers Lil' Anglers Kids Club will also be featured on Thursday night. Designed for children 13 and younger, membership includes admission to and a food voucher to all Thursday home games. Membership is $25 per child per season.