Threshers Rally Comes Up Short
Tuesday was an up and down night at Bright House Field for the Clearwater Threshers. The club went ahead of the visiting Tampa Yankees early, fell behind, tied the game, fell behind again, and then almost came back for a miracle win. It was like riding a roller coaster, watching this game.
The scoring started with a two-run double by Andrew Pullin off Yankees starting pitcher Eric Ruth to give the Threshers a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
Yankees 1st baseman Mike Ford answered back with the first of three Tampa home runs in the game during the top of the 4th. After the Yanks scratched out a run, Ford blasted a 2-run shot to right-center off of Threshers starting pitcher Miguel Nuñez to put them in front by 3-2.
The Threshers came back to tie in the bottom of the 4th on 3rd baseman Mitchell Walding’s first home run of the year. His well-hi,t two-out longball soared over the fence in right center field.
Reinier Roibal came on in the 6th inning to replace Nuñez. Roibal gave up a solo home run to Ericson Leonora, the Yankees left fielder, in the 7th, giving the Yankees a 4-3 lead heading into the 9th inning.
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In the top of the 9th, after reliever Cody Fosythe allowed singles to the first two batters, the Threshers brought in reliever Kevin Walter. Walter allowed another single to load the bases, and then proceeded to give up a grand slam home run to Yankee catcher Kyle Higashoka. The Yankees were up 8-3 going into the bottom of the ninth.
The Threshers answered back in the bottom of the ninth with a one-out, bases loaded triple by catcher Andrew Knapp. When Dylan Cozens then reached on an error, Clearwater had the tying run at 3rd, and the winning run at 1st. But then trying to move that game-winner into scoring position, Cozens was thrown out attempting a steal.
One batter later, Zach Green popped out to end the rally and the ball game. The score was 8-7, Yankees.
While the Threshers did come up short, they showed heart, as they have all season. In not giving up and fighting hard enough to almost capture the win, they remind me of “The Goonies” of 80’s movie fame – they never say die.
The Threshers are off Wednesday, and will face the rival Dunedin Blue Jays on Thursday night.