FLYING TIGERS … Lakeland concluded the second half with a 29-36 record following a five-game set in three days against Daytona. Lakeland finished in a tie for last place, 11.5 games behind division-winning Brevard County. Last season, the Flying Tigers finished the first stanza of the season with a 32-36 record. Lakeland went 3-7 to close the first half and dropped 12 of their last 19 games.
SARASOTA … The Reds also finished last in their Division, completing the first half with a 28-40 record, 14.5 games behind Division-winner Fort Myers. Yonder Alonso is 10th in the FSL with a .302 average. Sarasota has the lowest batting average (.238) and highest ERA (4.06) in the league.
THE END THAT WASN’T … The end of the second game of the doubleheader on Wednesday ended in an unique way to say the least. With Lakeland ahead by two and Jake Opitz on first with two outs in the top of the 7th, Brendan Wise was brought to to try and preserve a 6-4 win. The first batter he faced, Brandon Guyer, laced a single to center field to put runners on first and second. Pinch-hitter Starlin Castro hit another single to center. Opitz scored and Guyer raced around to score what appeared to be the tying run. However, Lakeland alertly appealed that Guyer missed third base. The plate umpire agreed and called the runner out for the final out.
HAVE A DAY … Devin Thomas had a doubleheader to remember on Wednesday collecting fibe hits in his combined seven at bats as Lakeland split the two games.
WORK-LIKE … Josh Workman didn’t collect his first hit until his fourth game at Lakeland and has now hit in each of his last four games including two hits in each of the last three for a 6-for-9 steak.
CALL TO ARMS … Five games in three days cut deep into the Lakeland pitching staff as all put two available pitchers were used in the last three days. Only Andrew Hess, who had pitched Saturday in the FSL All-Star game, and L.J. Gagnier did not see action in the Cubs’ series.
BATS ARISE … Lakeland batters combined to post a .314 batting average in the final six games of the first half.
W IS FOR MORE THAN WINNING … Robbie Weinhardt has not allowed an earned run in his last 15 innings over eight appearances including a season-high 4.0 innings on June 23 against Daytona. Brendan Wise has picked up saves in each of last two appearances.
CLOSE CALLS … Each of the last four games for Lakeland have been decided by one run. On the season, Lakeland has been involved in 20 games and has an 8-12 record in those games.
FSL LEADERS … Thad Weber, since promoted to AA Erie, ranks third in the FSL with a 2.13 ERA while Justin Henry leads the league’s second baseman with a .990 fielding percentage.
DOUBLE THE PLEASURE … The Flying Tigers have doubled in 13 straight games and 20 of their last 21 games including a season-tying high of five doubles on June 18 at Charlotte.
STEP RIGHT UP … Michael Bertram is second on the team lead with seven home runs. Each of his seven have come against righthanded pitchers. Meanwhile Chris Carlson, who leads the team with eight dingers, is not too particular, having hit four homers off righties and four off lefties.
FLYING HIGH … Shortstop Audy Ciriaco is 10-for-21 (.476) his last six games … Justin Henry has hit safely in each of his last six games and 11 of his last 12 games … Jordan Newton went 4-for-7 with three doubles and two RBI the last two games.
OMEN AHEAD … It may be a good thing the second half is opening on a Thursday for Lakeland as the club has their best record on that day winning nine of the 13 games played on the fifth day of the week. However, Fridays are the team’s worst day, going 2-7 to kick off the weekend.
LAKELAND MANAGER ANDY BARKETT … Barkett is in his second season with Lakeland with an 96-106 record (67-70 in year one). In his rookie season as manager, he led Oneonta to a 44-32 record in the New York-Penn League in 2007.
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