Matt Climie drove in five runs as the Clearwater Threshers defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers 8-6 Friday night at Joker Marchant Stadium. Climie hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning and added a two-run single in the eighth. The victory moved Clearwater to 69-53 overall and kept the Threshers and Flying Tigers tied at 29-27.
Lakeland entered the game with a 60-61 overall record and faced four-run deficits at 2-0 and 6-1 before rallying. The Flying Tigers scored twice in the ninth inning but stranded the tying run at the plate. Clearwater held on to win the game.
Clearwater builds early leads
Clearwater scored twice in the second inning against Lakeland starter Michael Massey. Jonathan Hogart hit a solo home run, and Cade Climie followed walks by Macon Winslow and Lane Haworth with an RBI single that made it 2-0. Cris Rodriguez cut the deficit to one run with a solo home run for Lakeland in the fourth inning.
The Threshers added four runs in the sixth inning. Matt Ferrara reached on an infield single, Jonathan Hogart was hit by a pitch and Macon Winslow doubled home Ferrara before Matt Climie hit his three-run home run. The sequence extended Clearwater’s lead to 6-1.
Lakeland answered with one run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jesus Pinto and Michael Oliveto walked, and Javier Osorio drove in Pinto with an RBI single to make the score 6-2. The Flying Tigers added two more runs in the seventh when Hunter Dobbins reached on a single, Jordan Yost walked, Pinto drove in Dobbins and Oliveto followed with an RBI single.
Flying Tigers rally falls short
Clearwater restored its four-run advantage in the eighth inning. Lane Haworth reached on a single, Matt Quintanar walked and Matt Climie drove in both runners with a two-run single. The hit gave Climie five RBIs in the game and put the Threshers ahead 8-4.
Lakeland mounted another rally in the ninth inning. Jude Warwick doubled to begin the inning, Oliveto drove him in with a single and Rodriguez tripled home Oliveto to cut the deficit to 8-6. The Flying Tigers could not bring home the tying run.
Youngerman earns win
Sean Youngerman earned the win for Clearwater, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk over five innings. Michael Massey took the loss in his professional debut after allowing two runs on one hit with two strikeouts and two walks over 1.2 innings. Youngerman’s win was his third of the season, while Massey fell to 0-1.
Lakeland will seek a 3-2 series lead over Clearwater at home Saturday at 6 p.m. Right-hander Kelvis Salcedo is scheduled to start for the Flying Tigers against Clearwater left-hander Yordanis Guerra. Salcedo is listed at 0-3 with a 4.39 ERA, while Guerra is listed at 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA.
Source: Original report