Bergolla Walks off Lakeland in Come-From-Behind Win

WP: Jonh Henriquez (13-1, 3.18)

LP: Cam Brown (3-1, 3.68)

BOX SCORE:

CLEARWATER, FL – William Bergolla’s RBI single in the tenth sealed a walkoff win for the Clearwater Threshers (67-32, 23-11), who came back from six runs down in a 7-6 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers (49-50, 23-11) on Friday night at BayCare ballpark. The Threshers look to move into first in the second-half standings in a Saturday night tilt against the Flying Tigers.

The Flying Tigers plated six runs in the first inning to take an early lead for the second time this series. Bryan Rincon walked to lead off the second and Bergolla rolled a single into right off Lakeland starter Colin Fields that moved Rincon to third. Cole Moore plated Rincon for the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right. With two outs in the inning, Fields hit Jordan Viars with a pitch, setting up a three-run home run from Cade Fergus that put the Threshers within two runs at 6-4.

Rincon led off the sixth with a single off newly entered Lakeland reliever Garrett Apker and stole second during Moore’s at-bat. Moore singled, advancing Rincon to third, and both runners came home on a two-run double by Jordan Dissin that tied the game at six.

The game stayed tied to force extra innings, and a diving stop on a fielder’s choice by Moore kept the game tied heading into the bottom of the tenth. Justin Crawford was intentionally walked to start the bottom of the tenth and reached on a fielder’s choice that retired the extra runner at third. With two outs in the inning and two strikes on him, Bergolla delivered a single up the middle, plating Crawford from second and sealing the comeback win 7-6.

Alex McFarlane tossed 0.2 innings, allowing five runs on three hits with three walks and one strikeout in a no-decision. Jonathan Petit struck out 11 batters in 4.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits without a walk. Danny Wilkinson threw 1.2 shutout frames without a hit, walking one and striking out four. Jonh Henriquez (13-1) earned the win in 3.0 scoreless and hitless innings with one walk and four strikeouts.

Pettit set a new career-high with 11 strikeouts...His 11 strikeouts set the high mark for any Threshers pitcher this season...Petit is the first Threshers hurler in 2023 to record double-digit strikeouts in a game...Wilkinson now has 16.0-straight shutout innings...He hasn't allowed a run in his last eight outings...The Threshers have won nine games in a walkoff this season...Five of those wins have come against Lakeland...The six-run comeback was the Threshers’ biggest comeback win of the year...Clearwater's pitching staff equaled their season-high with 20 strikeouts...Bergolla has three multi-hit games this series in four games played...The Threshers continue their six-game series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Saturday, August 5 at BayCare Ballpark... First pitch is at 6:30 pm... You can purchase tickets for Threshers games at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.