Cris Rodriguez delivered two key run-producing plays as the Lakeland Flying Tigers defeated the Clearwater Threshers 7-4 on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 30, at Joker Marchant Stadium. The victory closed Lakeland’s 2026 home schedule and secured the team’s third consecutive series victory. Lakeland finished the game with a 61-61 overall record and a 30-27 record in the listed split.
Clearwater scored first in the second inning against Lakeland starter Kelvis Salcedo. Nolan Beltran reached on an error, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Cade Climie’s RBI single. Lakeland tied the game in the bottom half when Michael Oliveto singled and scored on Rodriguez’s RBI double.
Rodriguez helps Lakeland take control
The Clearwater Threshers regained the lead in the fourth inning when Matthew Ferrara scored on Climie’s sacrifice fly. Lakeland answered in the bottom half against reliever Kobe Minchey, with Rodriguez producing his fourth consecutive two-RBI game to begin his Single-A career. His groundout scored Zach MacDonald and tied the game at 2-2.
The Flying Tigers moved ahead with two runs in the fifth inning against reliever Tyler Bowen. Jack Goodman scored on a wild pitch, and Angel De Los Santos later scored on Jesus Pinto’s sacrifice fly. Clearwater cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom half when Ferrara scored on Nolan Beltran’s RBI double.
Lakeland added three runs in the sixth inning against reliever Kyler Carmack. Anibal Salas drove in Oliveto for his 16th RBI over his last 19 starts, Javier Osorio brought Rodriguez home on a sacrifice fly, and Jude Warwick drove in De Los Santos to extend the lead to 7-3.
Clearwater scored once in the eighth inning when Will Vierling doubled home Ferrara. Neither team scored the rest of the way, allowing Lakeland to secure three consecutive series victories for the first time since July 2025.
Yendy Gomez earns victory
Reliever Yendy Gomez earned the win and improved to 7-3 after throwing one perfect inning with one strikeout. Bower took the loss and fell to 4-2 after allowing two runs on one hit, walking two and striking out one in 0.2 innings. The Clearwater Threshers finished with a 69-54 overall record and a 29-28 record in the listed split.
The Lakeland Flying Tigers will travel to Bradenton for their final series of the season, beginning Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Both teams’ starters were to be determined.
Source: Original report