James' Bat Provides the Offense in Series-Opening Victory

CLEARWATER, Fla. (July 19, 2018) - Jared James picked up in Clearwater where he left off in Dunedin by carrying a hot stick into the series opener against the Clearwater Threshers at Spectrum Field on Thursday night. The left-handed batter clobbered his fifth home run of the season, and drove home three runs in the Florida Fire Frogs' 7-5 victory.

James (2x3, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB) started the scoring early for Florida (14-14, 43-57) by driving home Brett Cumberland  (1x3, R, 2B, 2 BB) with a single to right-center for the 1-0 lead. After the Threshers answered with a run in their own in the bottom half of the opening frame and the Fire Frogs took their second lead of the night with a solo run in the second on an RBI double by Jordan Rodgers  (2x4, 2 2B, RBI) in the second, James slugged a two-run shot out of the stadium to right to push the advantage up the three for the visitors.
The 24-year-old has collect five RBI over the last two contests, after wrapping up the series against the Dunedin Blue Jays at Dunedin Stadium with a two-RBI night on Wednesday.
Dan Lietz  (1-1) took over for Joey Wentz  after the left-handed started lasted just two innings. The southpaw out of the bullpen surrendered four run on back-to-back long balls with two outs to Edgar Cabral for the game-tying three-run blast and Kyle Martin, two pitches later.
Lietz would work scoreless fifth and sixth innings on his way to his first win with Florida this season. The product of Heartland Community College allowed the four runs on four hits and two walks.
Florida took advantage of a shaky defensive play by Clearwater (13-12, 47-48) in the sixth inning to take its third lead of the game. Braxton Davidson  (2x5, R, 2B) started the inning with a single and moved up to second on a walk to Kurt Hoekstra  (0x3, 2 R, 2 BB). Rodgers flew out for the first out against McKenzie Mills (0-4), leading into Isranel Wilson's  (0x4, BB) fielder's choice. The 20-year-old hit a slow bouncer out towards second, but Raul Rivas' flip to the bag sailed over Jose Gomez's head, allowing Davidson to score the tying run.
Marcus Mooney  (1x5) singled off of new pitcher Blake Quinn, and Cristian Pache  (0x5, RBI) hit into an RBI fielder's choice to give the Fire Frogs the 6-5 edge.
The road team added an insurance run in the seventh with the help of defensive interference. With James at first, Davidson lined a single into the gap in right-center. James ran into Gomez at the second base bag, as was eventually tagged out at home on the play. The umpires ruled interference on Gomez, allowing James to score the seventh run of the night for the Fire Frogs.
Thomas Burrows  (SV, 4) earned his fourth save with Florida by holding the home team off the scoreboard through the final two innings. The product of Alabama faced off against Cabral with two on and two out in the final frame, but retired the opposing catcher on a fly to left to lock down the save.
Florida goes for the series victory in game two of the three-game set at Spectrum Field on Friday night. LHP Kyle Muller  (4-1, 3.21) takes the mound for the Fire Frogs against RHP Ramon Rosso (2-1, 2.65). First pitch is schedule for 6:15 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:00 p.m. with the Florida Fire Frogs Pre-game Show on the Florida Fire Frogs Broadcasting Network.
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.
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