THE FLYING TIGERS (22-31, 51-67) ... Lakeland dropped a doubleheader to Tampa in their last action on Sunday losing 3-1 and 10-3. The Flying Tigers have now dropped four straight, eight of their last nine, and nine of their last 13 games. Lakeland opponents are batting .347 the last five games while Flying Tigers starting pitchers have a 7.74 ERA over the last nine games and the bullpen has a 3.19 mark.
DAYTONA (24-31, 58-64) ... The Cubs are coming off a four-game split with Brevard County taking the last two games, including an 11-2 win on Sunday. The top four batters in the Daytona line-up were a combined 9x19 with eight runs scored and five runs batted in. Brandon Guyer is 15x33 (.455) his last nine games. Tony Campana is second in the FSL with 48 stolen bases. OF Josh Vitters was the Cub’s first round pick (3rd overall) in the 2007 draft.
THE SERIES ... These clubs have played each other 11 times this season with Daytona holding a slim 6-5 edge. This is the first time they have met since playing five games in three days in Lakeland to end the first half. Lakeland will play these four games in Daytona and then host the Cubs for a three-game set on Sept. 1-3.
LAKELAND PROBABLE STARTERS
• TUE., AUG. 26 - Mark Sorenson (0-1, 11.49) ... surrendered at least four earned runs in each of his four outings ... allowed at least seven hits in each outing ... been homered against in each outing including two dingers in each of his last two starts ... worked past 4.1 innings just once - that in his only loss (5.2 IP vs. Clearwater on Aug. 13) ... gave up 10 hits in his first outing on Aug. 2 (3.1 IP) and 12 in his last outing on Aug. 19 (4.1), but did not factor in either decision ... worked 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs, 12 hits (including two homers) with three strikeouts and 1 walk in last start on Aug. 19 vs. Clearwater (did not factor in decision).
• WED., AUG. 27 - Charlie Furbush (6-6, 3.65) ... surrendered 11 earned runs in last 27 IP over six outings (3.66 ERA) ... struck out season-high 10 batters on July 28 vs. Palm Beach ... has 15 strikeouts and seven walks last three games ... is 4-2 at home and 2-4 on the road ... winless in August ... worked 3.0 IP, allowing three runs, all earned, on four hits, while striking out five and walking three in last start on Aug. 20 at Tampa ... did not factor in the decision.
• THU., AUG. 28 - Andrew Hess (6-10, 3.62) ... allowed 13 earned runs last five starts for a 5.40 ERA ... worked 7.1 IP in longest outing on July 9 at Dunedin ... has lost two of last three starts ... has not won or last back-to-back starts since early June ... six of his seven homers allowed have been on the road ... worked 5.2 IP in loss at Tampa on Aug. 22 and allowed 13 hits with six earned runs with two strikeouts and two walks.
• FRI., AUG. 29 - Ryan Ketchner (1-3, 4.68) ... allowed 12 earned runs on 33 hits in last five starts and saw his ERA drop from 10.38 to 4.68 ... has struck out 18 batters and walked just two his last 18.1 IP over last three starts ... each of his four decisions have been in home games ... worked 6.0 IP and allowed two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks in loss on Aug. 23 in last start at Tampa.
NEW CREW MEMBERS ... The revolving door known as the Flying Tigers roster has been getting a workout as of late. Earning promotions have been IF Max Leon (AAA) and OF Chris White (AA) while RHP L.J. Gagnier was placed on the temporary inactive list. Miguel Mejia, Gary Perinar and Richard Zumaya, all right-handed pitchers, were sent back to GCL after one appearance for Lakeland. Joining the club are: Jordan Cruz, an outfielder up from the GCL and LHP Matt Hoffman who comes off the DL. Cruz, who played his college ball at Kansas State, was batting .265 with six homers and 29 RBI with the Gulf Coast team. An undrafted free agent signed this summer by Detroit, Cruz hit .324 with 11 homers and 52 RBI as a senior for the Wildcats. Matt Hoffman who comes off the disabled list where he has been since Aug. 5. Hoffman was 3-6 with a 6.75 ERA in 12 appearances before being placed on the DL.
FLYING HIGH ... Audy Ciriaco is 16x45 (.356) his last 11 games and 23x67 (.343) his last 16 games ... Jeramy Laster is 6x15 (.400) his last five games but has struck out eight times with no extra base hits or RBIs ... Maiko Loyola is now 10x33 (.303) his last nine games with two doubles and a triple ... Jordan Newton has eight multi-hit games since July 17. He is batting .323 at home and .203 on the road ... Hernan Perez is 9x28 (.321) since rejoining Lakeland on Aug. 11 ... Devin Thomas has hit safely in 12 of his last 15 games with a 15x54 (.278) effort with 12 RBI ... Joe Tucker is 9x29 (.310) his last 10 games with five RBI ... Josh Workman is 11x33 (.333) with four multi-hit games and five RBI his last nine games.
GROUNDED ... Adrian Casanova is 2x21 (.095) his last seven games ... Luis Grullon is 2x24 (.083) since joining Lakeland on July 24 ... Justin Henry is 7x44 (.159) with eight strikeouts his last 11 games.
THE ARMS ... Four of Nolan Cain’s seven earned runs allowed in 12 games this season came in one outing. Toss out that game and he has a 1.69 ERA ... Charlie Furbush has 25 strikeouts and seven walks his last four games ... Lester Oliveros has given up just one earned run his last 11.2 innings over seven outings and has 15 K’s and three walks his last eight appearances.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ... Mauricio Robles, now with the High Desert Mavericks in the California League, is 2-1 with a 2.66 in four games played for the Mariners’ Class A affiliate. He has not allowed a run in his last two starts (each 7.0 IP) allowing just four hits with 17 strikeouts ... Brett Jacobson is 0-2 with a 8.10 ERA for the Orioles’ Class A Ffrederick Keys in the Carolina League.
FORMER FLYING TIGER WEBER TOSSES NO-HITTER ... Thad Weber, who began the 2009 campaign with Lakeland, faced two batters over the minimum and struck out ten in throwing a no-hitter in Erie’s 16-0 rout over Akron on Saturday. It was the first no-hitter thrown by an Erie pitcher since 1995. Weber was 4-4 with a 2.13 ERA at Lakeland before being promoted to Erie in June. Other former Flying Tigers gave Weber some offensive support as Jeff Kunkel, who was behind the plate for Weber’s gem, added a homer and four RBI as did Michael Bertram while Diek Scram fell a triple shy of the cycle while driving in two runs and scoring three times.
GM NAMED TO COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TEAM ... Flying Tigers General Manager Zach Burek has been named to the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce’s 27th class of Leadership Lakeland. The annual group was created to identify and develop diverse future leadership for Lakeland and the Chamber of Commerce, and to motivate these potential leaders for community and chamber involvement and decision making.
A GLANCE AT THE ORGANIZATION ... Detroit, 66-58, leads the American League Central Division by 3.5 games over Chicago and are 20 games over .500 at Comerica Park ... Toledo, 67-63, is in second place in the International League West Division and trails Louisville by 8.5 games despite going 8-2 their last 10 games ... Erie, 66-60, is 11.5 behind Akron in the Eastern League Southern Division and is also 20 games over .500 in home games ... West Michigan, 76-51, is in second place, 8.0 games behind Fort Wayne in the Midwest League Eastern Division ... Oneonta, 33-28, is 1.5 games behind Lowell in the New York-Penn’s Stedler Division ... The GCL Tigers, 26-28, are 5.0 games back in the North Division.
FLYING TIGERS TO HOST JOB FAIR ... Lakeland is hosting a Job Fair in conjunction with its Sept. 1 game. Entrance is free with a resume to the job fair and game. The event will run from 6-8:30 p.m.
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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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