TAMPA (36-14, 66-51) ... Tampa leads the North Division by five games over Brevard County (Wednesday’s game against Daytona in Tampa was cancelled due to lightning) ... Walter Ibarra is 9x21 (.429) his last six games and had four games in a row during that stretch with two hits each ... Brandon Laird has hits in 10 of his last 11 games (14x37, .378) with three doubles, a triple, three homers and 11 runs batted in ... Luis Nunez is 13x32 (.406) with three doubles and a pair of home runs his last nine games ... Jack Rye is 12x19 (.632) his last seven games ... The Yankees are batting .271 in their last 10 games and .314 in their last five contests.
THE SERIES ... These two clubs have played each other 16 times this season with Tampa holding a 9-7 edge. The Yankees have won three straight in the series.
BACK AND FORTH ... In a quirk of the FSL schedule, these two clubs will head back and fourth over the next four nights, playing games one and three in Tampa on Thursday and Saturday and games two and four in Lakeland on Friday and Sunday.
IT’S ALL RELATIVE ... Brandon Romine, the Yankees second round pick in the 2007 Draft is the son of former Major League outfielder Kevin Romine (Boston, 1985-1991).
BARKETT EJECTED TUESDAY ... Lakeland manager Andy Barkett was tossed in the third inning of Monday’s game by plate umpire Matthew Pridemore. It is Barkett’s fourth ejection of the season - all coming on the road. He has not been ejected in a home game since May 29, 2008.
LAKELAND PROBABLE STARTERS ...
THU @ TPA - CHARLIE FURBUSH (6-6, 3.49) ... Has surrendered just two earned runs his last three official starts for a 1.49 ERA ... has 20 strikeouts and four walks in those three games ... season-high 10 strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched on July 28 against Palm Beach ... 4-2 at home and 2-4 on the road ... allowed one run on four hits in 4.2 innings with six strikeouts and one walk in last start at Brevard County (did not factor into the decision).
FRI @ LAK - ANDREW HESS (6-9, 3.30) ... Has given up seven earned runs in his last four starts for a 3.94 ERA ... does not have a strikeout in his last two starts ... gave up one run on three hits in four innings pitched in last start on Aug. 10 at Brevard County (did not factor into the decision).
SAT @ TPA - RYAN KETCHNER (1-2, 5.06) ... Has allowed 12 earned runs his last four starts and dropped his ERA 3.38 points to 5.06 after posting a 10.38 mark in his first three games ... gave up four earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 6.1 innings in loss vs. Clearwater at home on Aug. 17.
SUN @ LAK - L.J. GAGNIER (9-9, 3.77) ... Second in the FSL with 118 strikeouts n 129.0 innings pitched with 38 walks ... has lost three straight ... is 5-2 at home and 4-7 on the road ... allowed four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk over 7.0 innings pitched on Aug. 18 at Clearwater.
EIGHT IS ENOUGH ... Lakeland has just eight home games left in the 2009 season. The Flying Tigers close out the season with a six-game homestand in September.
GAGNIER MOVES UP ... With his six strikeouts on Tuesday, L.J. Gagnier now has the sixth most strikeouts for any Lakeland pitcher since 1978. He is only the third Lakeland pitcher this decade to reach 118 strikeouts and now sets his sights on catching Brian Powell (1997) and Greg Whiteman (1996) who each struck out 122 batters. The Lakeland record of 134 is co-held by Jordan Tata (2005) and Rick Lacko (1987).
FLYING HIGH ... Audy Ciriaco is 13x29 (.448) his last seven games and 20x51 (.392) his last 12 games ... Maiko Loyola is now 8x27 (.296) his last seven games ... Jordan Newton has eight multi-hit games since July 17 including three in his last six games ... Hernan Perez is 5x13 (.385) since rejoining Lakeland on Aug. 11 ... Devin Thomas has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games with a 14x44 (.318) effort with 11 RBI.
THE ARMS ... Four of Nolan Cain’s seven earned runs allowed in 11 games this season came in one outing. Toss out that game and he has a 1.94 ERA ... Charlie Furbush has surrendered just two earned runs his last three official starts for a 1.49 ERA. He has 20 strikeouts and four walks in those three games ... Lester Oliveros has given up just one earned run his last 10.2 innings over six outings and has 14 K’s and three walks his last seven appearances.
TAMPA PROMOTIONAL LINE-UP ... The first 250 paid fans to Thursday’s game receive a free Yankees Lunch Box ... Saturday’s game is billed as Jimmy Buffet Tribute Night - Save the Manatees.
LAKELAND PROMOTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ... The first 500 paid fans on Friday at Lakeland will receive a free Ace (mascot) Pin while kids can enjoy special themed contests and promotions ... Sunday is Family Fun Day. Kids receive free admission and can play catch on the field before the game and run the bases after the game while all fans receive a free sundae from Dairy Queen.
ROBERTO’S KIDS ... Founded by the family of the late Roberto Clemente, this organization collects baseball equipment to help start youth baseball leagues in poverty stricken countries throughout Latin America. Fans are encouraged to donate their old baseball equipment and uniforms to Joker Marchant this worthy cause.
BACK TO SCHOOL ... The Flying Tigers are asking fans to donate school supplies for needy Polk County children. They will a collection bin at the main gate for donations.
A GLANCE AT THE ORGANIZATION ... Detroit, 63-55, leads the American League Central Division by three games over Chicago ... Toledo, 63-52, is in second place in the International League West Division and trails Louisville by 9-1/2 games ... Erie, 63-56, is 10.5 behind Akron in the Eastern League Southern Division ... West Michigan, 74-48, is 7.0 games behind Fort Wayne in the Midwest League Eastern Division standings ... Oneonta, 30-25, is tied for first place with Lowell in the New York-Penn’s Stedler Division ... The GCL Tigers, 22-28, are in last place on the North Division.
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Views expressed in “Mission Notes” are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
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