Lakeland splits Thursday’s doubleheader with Clearwater

After a resounding 8-2 victory in game one of the doubleheader, the Lakeland Flying Tigers (60-60, 29-26) allowed 10 unanswered runs in game two en route to a 11-6 defeat to split the twin bill with the Clearwater Threshers (68-53, 28-27) on Thursday night at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Lakeland began the scoring in game one with three runs in the first off Clearwater starter Brad Pacheco. Jude Warwick led off the inning with a single, Jordan Yost doubled and Zach MacDonald walked. Cris Rodriguez scored Warwick and Yost on a two-run double and Anibal Salas added a sacrifice fly to score MacDonald, putting the Flying Tigers ahead, 3-0.

Lakeland starter and 2026 first-round draft pick Cameron Flukey went 3.0 shutout innings of one-hit ball while punching out four and walking one.

Clearwater got on the board with two runs in the fifth inning off reliever Cale Wetwiska. Lane Haworth doubled and Victor Cardoza drove him in on an RBI single. Cardoza scored from second on an RBI infield single to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The Flying Tigers added two runs in the sixth off reliever Jacob Pruitt. Salas led off with a single, Javier Osorio doubled and Salas scored on a balk. Warwick drove in Osorio on an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2.

Lakeland scored two more runs off reliever Wilmer Blanco in the seventh. Cris Rodriguez reached on a single and scored on a two-run smash from Javier Osorio, putting the Flying TIgers ahead, 7-2.

Lakland added one more run in the eighth off Blanco on a solo homer from Jack Goodman to cap the scoring at 8-2.

Wetwiska (4-0) nabbed the win, going 4.2 innings and allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking three. Pacheco (6-8) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits while punching out six and walking two over 3.0 innings.

In game two, Clearwater began the scoring in the first with one run off Lakeland starter Carlos Rodriguez. Will Gasparino laid down a bunt single to lead off the game, stole second and scored on an error, giving the Threshers a 1-0 lead.

Lakeland tied the game with one run in the second off starter Cole Gilley. Zach MacDonald walked, moved to second on a groundout, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly from Anibal Salas to tie the game at 1-1.

The Flying Tigers took the lead with four runs off Gilley in the third. Enderson Delgado led off with a single, moved to second on a single from Jack Goodman, advanced to third on a fielders’ choice from Jesus Pinto and scored on a Michael Oliveto RBI single. Zach MacDonald cleared the bases with a 112 mph, 415-foot three-run blast to extend the lead to 5-1.

Lakland added one more run in the fourth off reliever Manuel Colon. Salas led off the inning with a double and Goodman drove him in on an RBI double to push the lead to 6-1.

Clearwater added four runs in the sixth charged to reliever Xiomer Guacache. Nolan Beltran began the inning with a single, moved to second on a Matt Quintanar single, advanced to third on a Cade Climie fielder’s choice and scored on a wild pitch. Jack Hopko singled and moved to second on a hit by pitch to Tyler Spangler. Climie and Hopko scored on an error and Sapangler came around to score on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

The Threshers took the lead with five runs off reliever Leonardo Rossell in the sixth. Beltran led off with a double, moved to third on a Quintanar single and scored on an RBI infield single from Climie. Hopko drove in Quintanar on an RBI single and Climie raced home on a wild pitch to push the lead to 8-6. Spangler notched an RBI single to score Hopko and Matthew Ferrara walked in Spangler to extend the lead to 10-6.

Clearwater finished the scoring in the seventh with a Spangler sacrifice fly off reliever Johnathan Rogers.

Colon (3-0) earned the win, throwing 2.0 innings while allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Rossell (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits while punching out one and walking one over 0.2 innings.

Lakeland looks for a 3-1 series lead over the Threshers at home on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Flying Tigers RHP Michael Massey (0-0, --) makes his professional debut as he squares off against Clearwater RHP Sean Youngerman (2-7, 5.48).