THE FLYING TIGERS (29-21) - After posting a 10-2 record in three previous series against South Division teams, Lakeland found its latest series a bit tougher as Palm Beach took three of four from the Flying Tigers over the past weekend. The series left Lakeland 1.5 games behind Dunedin and 2.0 games ahead of Clearwater in the North Division standings. The first half ends on June 23 with the first half division winners qualifying for the postseason playoffs. The Flying Tigers are tied for third in the league with a .266 average, second with 208 doubles and third with 167 walks. The staff ERA of 2.83 is best in the FSL while the 97 walks issued is the fewest allowed in the league.
THE MARAUDERS (29-21) ... The league’s newest team, Bradenton is an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. With an identical record to Lakeland, Bradenton tops the South Division by 1.5 games over Palm Beach. Both teams are 6-4 in the last 10 games. The Marauders top the FSL with a .275 batting average and are the highest scoring team in the league with 259 runs scored. Their pitching staff is fourth in the league with a 3.60 ERA.
LAKELAND’s PROBABLE STARTERS ... Tue: Luke Putkonen (5-2, 2.70); Wed: Mark Sorensen (4-5, 4.18); Thu: Brayan Villarreal (6-3, 3.30).
FOUR FLYING TIGERS NAMED TO FSL ALL-STAR TEAM ... Pitchers Charlie Furbush and Brayan Villarreal along with first baseman Rawley Bishop and outfielder Kody Kaiser have been named to the 2010 FSL Mid-Season All-Star Game and will represent Lakeland in the 49th Annual event on June 12 at Space Coast Stadium in Viera.
OVERLOOKED? ... Second baseman Alden Carrithers still sits atop the Florida State League with a .364 batting average - 18 points better than Brevard County’s Matt Cline. His .469 on base percentage is also best in the league while his 32 walks is second best. He has now reached base in 30 consecutive games - the longest active streak in the FSL. All this and yet, he was not named to the Florida State League All-Star team.
KAISER AT 16 ... Kody Kaiser singled in his first at bat Sunday to extend his hit streak to 16 games. The Lakeland outfielder is hitting .478 (32x67) during the streak with six doubles, two triples, three homers and 12 runs batted in. He is third in the FSL with a .344 batting average and his 63 hits is the most in the FSL. The 16 games is the longest active streak in the FSL this season. Earlier this season Alden Carrithers posted a 13-game hit streak.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? ... Heading into Palm Beach series, designated hitter Billy Nowlin had not hit a home run this season after clubbing 13 at West Michigan last season. On Thursday, he hit his first homer of the year. On Friday, he hit another one On Saturday, he homered yet once again for his third consecutive game.
DOUBLE DIGITS AGAIN ... Charlie Furbush recorded ten strikeouts on Sunday, marking his third straight game, and fourth in his last five starts, that he has had 10 or more strikeouts in a game. He now has 54 strikeouts in those five starts and has 90 K’s for the season – 10 more than any other minor league pitcher this season. In his last five starts, Furbush is 1-1 with a 1.85 ERA.
BISHOP ... First baseman Rawley Bishop is fourth in the FSL with a .341 average, tops with 34 runs scored, third with 16 doubles, tied for third with 61 hits, fourth with 34 RBI and 21 extra-base hits, and fifth with a .508 slugging percentage.
TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM ... Shortstop Gustavo Nunez is tied for the FSL lead with five sacrifice bunts this season.
BUSY WEEK FOR DETROIT ORGANIZATION ... Lots of former Flying Tigers involved in movements throughout the Detroit minor league organization this past week. Up in Detroit, Danny Worth was sent back to Toledo when Carlos Guillen returned from the DL. West Michigan went through a major rehaul with four new players added to replace four other sent to extended spring training. Among the added players was Jimmy Gulliver who was briefly on the Lakeland roster this season while Mike Gosse was released. The week started with Robbie Weinhardt being placed on the DL at Toledo with a shoulder problem while Brendan Wise was sent to Toledo and Matt Hoffman promoted from Lakeland to Erie.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS ... Lakeland takes an 11-5 record against South Division teams into the Bradenton series. The Flying Tigers are 14-10 at home and 15-11 on the road. Sunday’s 5-4 loss to Palm Beach was Lakeland’s 17th game decided by one run this season with the Flying Tigers winning seven of those games. The Flying Tigers are 24-2 when leading after seven innings and 27-2 when taking lead into the ninth inning. Lakeland has scored first in 33 of its 50 games and has won 23 of those contests.
LAKELAND IN DETROIT ORGANIZATION ... Lakeland has the top four hitters in terms of batting average in the Detroit minor leagues in Alden Carrithers (.364), Kody Kaiser (.344), Rawley Bishop (.341) and Brent Wyatt (.314). The Flying Tigers also have two of the top three pitchers in Luke Putkonen (2nd with a 2.70 ERA) and Charlie Furbush (3rd with a 2.76 ERA). In addition, Brayan Villarreal is 7th with a 3.30 ERA. Gustavo Nunez tops Detroit minor leaguers with 11 stolen bases.
LAKELAND ALUMNI ... Wilkin Ramirez leads the Eastern League with 14 home runs and is second with 38 RBI for Erie. Thad Weber is second in the Eastern League with 62.0 innings pitched. Brendan Wise’s .157 opponents batting average is best among relievers in the Eastern League. Trevor Feeney is second in the Midwest League with 60 strikeouts at West Michigan.
COLLEGE TEAMMATES ... Flying Tigers’ second baseman Alden Carrithers and Marauders’ outfielder Anthony Norman were teammates at UCLA in 2007.
FIRST ROUNDER ... Marauder catcher Tony Sanchez was Pittsburgh first-round draft pick (fourth overall) in last year’s draft out of Boston College.
YOU LOOK FAMILIAR ... Marauder second baseman James Skelton was a mid-season All-Star catcher for the 2008 Flying Tigers, playing in 63 games before moving on to AA Erie. In 2009, he was traded to Arizona for RHP Brooks Brown.
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