Lakeland overcomes 4-run deficit in 6-5 win over Clearwater in series opener
The Lakeland Flying Tigers (59-59, 28-25) rallied from four runs down in a 6-5 win over the Clearwater Threshers (67-52, 27-26) on Tuesday night at Joker Marchant Stadium. Lakeland began the scoring with one run in the first off Clearwater starter Zuher Yousuf. Jordan Yost led off the inning with
The Lakeland Flying Tigers (59-59, 28-25) rallied from four runs down in a 6-5 win over the Clearwater Threshers (67-52, 27-26) on Tuesday night at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Lakeland began the scoring with one run in the first off Clearwater starter Zuher Yousuf. Jordan Yost led off the inning with a single, stole second and moved to third on a single from Jesus Pinot and scored on a fielding error to give the Flying Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Clearwater grabbed the lead with three runs in the second off Lakeland starter Caleb Leys. Macon Winslow singled, Jonathan Hogart walked and Mattherw Ferrara singled. Nolan Beltran drove in Winslow with an RBI groundout and two more runners scored on a fielding error, putting the Threshers ahead, 3-1.
Clearwater tacked on two more runs in the fourth off Leys. Ferrara singled, Beltran was hit by a pitch and Jack Hopko walked. Will Gasparino and Tyler Spangler each had RBI fielder’s choices to push the lead to 5-1.
The Flying Tigers responded with two runs in the fifth off Yousuf. Angel De Los Santos reached on a fielder’s choice and Cris Rodriguez drove him in with a home run in his Single-A debut, a 423-foot two-run blast to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Lakeland tied the game with two runs off reliever Tyler Bowen in the sixth. Brady Ballinger walked and Javier Osorio smashed a game-tying two-run blast to knot the game at 5-5.
The Flying Tigers took the lead with one run in the eighth off reliever James Tallon. Yost drew a walk, Anibal Salas singled, and Yost scored on a fielding error to put Lakeland ahead, 7-5.
Flying Tigers reliever Pedro Garcia worked around one runner in the ninth to close the door on a 6-5 Lakeland win.
Garcia (3-5) notched the win, going 2.0 scoreless innings while allowing one hit, striking out two and walking two. Tallon (3-2) took the loss, allowing one run on two hits while punching out one and walking one over 1.0 inning.
The Flying Tigers will look for their 14th consecutive home win over Clearwater on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Lakeland RHP Cameron Flukey (0-0, 0.00) faces off against Threshers RHP Brad Pacheco (6-7, 3.82).