Brito’s Two RBIs Buoy Threshers in Eight-Straight Win

WP: Andrew Walling (3-0, 4.35)

LP: Connor Holden (1-1, BS (1), 4.70)

SV: Orion Kerkering (4)

BOX SCORE:

CLEARWATER, FL – Erick Brito delivered the go-ahead single in the eighth as the Clearwater Threshers (15-6) overcame a three-run deficit to win their eighth-straight game in a 6-5 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers (11-11) on Tuesday night at BayCare Ballpark. The Threshers and Flying Tigers continue their six-game series on Wednesday evening in Clearwater.

Ricardo Rosario started off the game with a double to right-center in the first inning and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Caleb Ricketts drove him home with a triple to right off Flying Tigers starter Edgardo Ibarra to give Clearwater an early lead.

Lakeland struck back in the second with back-to-back home runs to take a 2-1 lead and added another on an RBI triple by Andrew Jenkins in the third to extend their lead to 3-1. Caleb Ricketts reached on a one-out single in the third and moved to second on a walk to Chad Castillo. He scored from second on an RBI base hit by Emaarion Boyd to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The Flying Tigers drove in runs on RBI singles in the fifth and sixth innings to extend their lead to 5-2. Emaarion Boyd responded with a leadoff double off Flying Tigers reliever Cleiverth Perez. Bryan Rincon walked, and Brito drove in Boyd with a single to cut the lead down to one. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Rincon scored on a groundout to put the Threshers within one. Justin Crawford singled to left but Brito was thrown out trying to tie the game and the Threshers stayed behind by one run at 5-4 after the sixth.

Boyd walked to lead off the eighth and immediately stole second. On a one-two count, Otto Kemp tripled into right-centerfield, plating Boyd and tying the game at five. After he was thrown out at home trying to tie the game, Brito singled on a two-strike fastball from Lakeland reliever Connor Holden to score Kemp and give the Threshers a 6-5 lead. Flying Tigers designated hitter Lazaro Benitez reached on a base hit in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as the Threshers closed out their eight-straight win in a 6-5 victory.

Estibenzon Jiménez tossed 2.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts in a no-decision. Danny Wilkinson allowed one run on one hit in 2.2 innings, walking two and striking out five. Eduar Segovia threw 2.0 innings with one run and one hit allowed along with two walks and three strikeouts. Andrew Walling (3-0) earned the win with one hit allowed and one strikeout in 1.0 shutout inning. Orion Kerkering earned the save in 1.0 scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.

Kerkering hit 100 mph on three pitches in the ninth... He leads the league with four saves in four chances... Kemp extended his team-best on-base streak to 14 straight games... Crawford tied Leonardo Balcazar of Daytona with the longest hitting streak of the season at nine games... The Threshers staff tied their season-high with 16 strikeouts for the third time... Boyd had his third multi-hit game of the season... The Threshers resume their twelve-game homestand after Monday’s off-day against the Lakeland Flying Tigers (Single-A, Tigers) on Wednesday, May 3rd at BayCare Ballpark… First pitch is at 6:30 PM... You can purchase tickets for the Threshers season at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.