THE FLYING TIGERS (17-16) - With a 4-2 decision over Charlotte on Thursday, Lakeland has now won three straight and five of its last six games. The Flying Tigers continue to lead the FSL with a 2.70 team ERA and have walked the fewest batters in the league. Lakeland is hitting .245 as a teamnand is second in the Florida State League with a .979 fielding percentage.
THE YANKEES (17-17) - Tampa beat Fort Myers 6-2 on Thursday with Bradley Suttle and Walter Ibarra each getting three hits to pace a 13-hit Yankee attack. Tampa is batting .257 as a team and has a 3.29 staff ERA. The Yankees have hit only eight home runs this season which is second fewest to Brevard County, which, incredibly, has hit just one home run this season.
THE SERIES - The Yankees have won four of the six previous meetings this year. Tampa shutout Lakeland in three of four games as the two clubs opened the season. The Flying Tigers have had their best offensive outings in two wins against Tampa winning 6-0 on April 9 and then recording season-highs with 13 runs on 18 hits in a 13-7 victory on April 24.
PROMOTIONAL EVENTS ... The Yankees will stage their Bright House Networks night on Friday night - traditionally some of the largest crowds of the season - while the Flying Tigers will honor military personnel on Saturday in honor of Armed Forces Day.
LAKELAND PROBABLE STARTERS:
FRIDAY - ADAM WILK (1-2, 3.38) - recorded his first win of the season in last start on May 8 against Dunedin - struck out nine and walked none in 5.2 innings ... has not walked a batter in last three starts and 18.2 innings.
SATURDAY - CHARLIE FURBUSH (2-3, 3.67) - coming off a tough-luck loss on May 10 - striking out 13 and walking one while allowing four hits over 6.1 IP ... has struck out seven or more in each of his six starts and has 28 K his last three games ... longest outing of 7.0 IP on May 4 against Daytona ... ranks second in the FSL with 49 strikeouts and third with 12.84 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
TRANSACTION SHUFFLE ... Two Flying Tigers earned promotions on Thursday as RHP Anthony Shawler and C Andy Bouchie were sent to Erie. Taking their place on the Lakeland roster are LHP Wilfredo Ramirez and C Angel Florie. Ramirez, who played three seasons in the Indians organization before being signed by Detroit, joins the club from extended spring while Florie comes to Lakeland from AAA Toledo where he was 3x8 in two games.
CLOSER BY COMMITTEE ... With save leader Lester Oliveros on the disabled list, the closer role has been by committee. Lakeland has had seven saves since April 29 with five different pitchers taking the honors including Miguel Mejia who picked up the save in Thursday night’s 4-2 win over Charlotte.
BULLPEN STRENGTH ... The Flying Tiger bullpen has not allowed a run over the last four games (11.2 IP) and just one earned run in the last seven contests (20.1) for a 0.44 ERA over that span. In addition the bullpen has recorded 21 strikeouts and walked just one batter in the last seven games.
EIGHT IS GREAT ... Lakeland has had eight hits in each of the last three games and came out victorious in each contest.
THREE TOP TEN HITTERS ... Fans attending this brief two-games series with get to see three of the league’s top ten hitters in terms of batting average. Tampa’s Jack Rye is second in the FSL with a .353 mark while Lakeland’s Rawley Bishop and Alden Carrithers are fifth and sixth with a .351 and .344 averages, respectively.
ALRIGHT ALDEN ... Second baseman Alden Carrithers moved into the lead-off spot on Thursday and responded with a perfect 3x3 night with a walk. It was the third time this season he has had three hits in one game. The three hits makes him 9x15 (.600) the last five games. The three hits also improves his average to .344 - second on the team. He is tied for second with 31 hits while leading the league with a .449 on-base percentage.
WICKED WYATT ... Left fielder Brent Wyatt was 2x3 in the #2 slot in the batting order on Thursday, giving him five hits in the last three gamesand seven hits in his last eight games.
STREAK SNAPPED ... Kody Kaiser saw his eight-game hit streak come to an end on Thursday. The right fielder was 10x28 (.357) during the streak.
THE MAGIC OF JULIO ... The Flying Tigers are a perfect 5-0 in games in which Julio Rodriguez starts behind the plate. He has four hits on the season - two of them for home runs.
NICE DEBUT ... Cory Hamilton made his Flying Tiger debut on Thursday by tossing three shutout innings. The former West Michigan Whitecap allowed two hits and struck out one on the night.
FABULOUS FURBUSH ... Charlie Furbush’s 13 strikeouts on May 10 were a season-high for any Lakeland pitcher this season. It was the fourth time in his career he has reached double-digits in strikeouts. His 49 K’s ranks second in the Florida State League.
BATTLIN’ BISHOP ... Despite being held hitless on Thursday for just the second time since April 28, Rawley Bishop continues to lead Lakeland with a .361 average, 19 runs scored, 40 hits, 10 doubles, four homers, 23 RBI, 62 stolen bases and a .544 slugging percentage (third in the FSL). Bishop has not walked in 49 plate appearances in the month of May.
ANOTHER EX-LAKELANDER MAKES THE SHOW ... Former Lakeland pitcher Alfredo Figaro got the call to the big show on May 12. He was 2-2 last season for Detroit. Figaro joins fellow Lakeland alums OF Brennan Boesch, 3B Don Kelly, SS Ramon Santiago and 2B Scott Sizemore along with pitchers Jeremy Bonderman, Eddie Bonine, Ryan Perry, Rick Porcello, Justin Verlander, Dontrelle Willis and Joel Zumaya on the big-league roster. (Since this blog was posted, Figaro was sent back to Toledo, but former Flying Tiger Casper Wells was called up to Detroit)
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