CLEARWATER ... The Threshers are coming off a 9-6 loss to Tampa on Sunday and now stand at 24-24 in the second half and 56-58 overall. Against the Yankees, Clearwater held a 2-0 lead after four innings, but watched Tampa scored nine times in the fifth thru eighth innings. It was the Threshers second straight loss and eighth in their last 14 games. Clearwater is 11 games behind division-leading Tampa which is 34-12. The Threshers have the league’s fifth-best hitting team with a .252, but the team ERA of 3.88 ranks second to last.
THE SERIES .. The two clubs have met 13 previous times with the Threshers winning eight of those contests, including the last two.
YOU LOOK FAMILIAR ... The last time Lakeland played a full game was against these same Clearwater Threshers last Thursday.
NAYLOR’S TIGER CONNECTION ... Thresher pitcher Drew Naylor’s father played for the Tigers. That is, he played rugby for the Balmain Tigers.
GAGNIER SEEKING TENTH WIN ... L.J. Gagnier is currently 9-8 on the year and needs just one more win to become just the sixth Lakeland pitcher this decade to reach double digits in victories joining Jordan Tata (13 in 2005), Jonah Nickerson (12 in 2008), Nate Bumstead (12 in 2005), Burke Badenhop (10 in 2007) and Preston Larrison (10 in 2002). The modern-era record for Lakeland is held by Mike Chris who was 18-5 for the 1977 Lakeland Tigers.
CIRIACO MINUS TWO ... Shortstop Audy Ciriaco has been a mainstay for Lakeland having played in 109 of the Flying Tigers’ 111 games. His longevity has helped put him in the team lead with 55 runs batted in.
BATTLE FOR RUNS LEAD ... Currently, Justin Henry leads Lakeland with 52 runs scored but Audy Ciriaco is close behind with 50 trips across the plate. Chris White and Jordan Newton are tied for third with 35 runs.
FLIP-FLOP FOR HITS LEAD ... Audy Ciriaco leads Lakeland with 100 hits while Justin Henry is second with 93 hits. Michael Bertram still ranks third with 82 hits, despite being promoted to AA Erie on July 24.
NEWTON FOR TWO ... Catcher Jordan Newton is the active Lakeland leader with 19 doubles in 2009. His total is tied with Michael Betram (now at AA Erie) for the overall lead.
DOUBLE DIGIT DINGERS ... Lakeland’s has three players with 10 or more homers, but only Audy Ciriaco is currently active with the club. The overall leader Chris Carlson went on the DL on August 11 with a wrist injury and is probably lost for the season while Michael Bertram (now at AA) is tied with Ciriaco at 10 homers.
MOTHER NATURE 3, LAKELAND 0 ... Mother nature washed out the three-game Brevard County series over the weekend. Friday night’s game was called after an hour and a half and scheduled for a doubleheader Saturday at 5 p.m. Saturday’s first game got underway as scheduled, but called in the top of the second and then eventually the night was wiped out due to unplayable conditions. Sunday’s doubleheader was scheduled for 4 p.m. and again got underway on time, but unrelenting rain caused the cancellation with the game in the bottom of the third. Three days less than three innings played. Ah, the FSL in August.
BABY, THE RAIN MUST FALL ... Lakeland has now had 22 dates postponed or washed out this season, including 13 home contests.
10 AND COUNTING ... Including tonight’s contest, Lakeland has just 10 home games left, including just four in August. Lakeland closes out the season with a six-game homestand in September.
PROMOTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ... In addition to the usual week-day promotions, the Flying Tigers have a couple of special events in the days ahead. August 19 will be the regular Wednesday night All-You-Can-Eat event featuring Tigertown Catering. The first 500 paid fans on Friday, August 21 will receive a free Ace (mascot) Pin while kids can enjoy special themed contests and promotions.
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 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.
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