THE FLYING TIGERS (38-37, 1-4, 3.0 GB) - Lakeland will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak that has included three extra-inning defeats. After knocking out 35 hits in the three overtime affairs, Lakeland was shutout by Tampa in the last outing on three hits. The Flying Tigers rank fourth in the Florida State League with a .261 average and third with a 3.15 staff ERA.
THE THRESHERS (40-37, 3-4, 2.0) ... Clearwater finished tied with Tampa and Lakeland for third place in the first half with a 37-33 record, 4.0 games behind Dunedin. The Threshers are 3-5 in their last eight games and are coming off a 4-0 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday. The Threshers rank third in the Florida State League with a .265 average and eighth with a 3.86 staff ERA. Jesus Sanchez is third in the FSL with a 2.88 ERA. Riding a 10-game hit streak, Anthony Gose is the league’s top base stealer with 20, but has swiped just one base in his last nine games. Gose is second with 52 runs scored, 87 hits and 131 total bases and has a league-best 10 triples. Cody Overbeck tops the league with a .553 slugging percentage, second with 31 extra base hits and is third in the FSL with 11 home runs.
THE SERIES ... Clearwater holds a 4-2 edge in the series this season and has taken four of the last five meetings. Brayan Villarreal picked up the win in both of Lakeland’s victories in the series - both times defeating Jesus Sanchez. Gustavo Nunez is hitting .348 (8x23) with seven run scored in the six games while Brent Wyatt is batting .318 (7x22) with three runs scored.
RAIN, RAIN ... After suffering just one rainout in the first half, the Flying Tigers have been washed out twice in the last three games. Lakeland’s game at Tampa on June 28 was rained out and was to be made up as part of doubleheader last night. Unfortunately, the rains came once again washing out the twin bill. One game is to be made up on Sunday, August 22 at 1 p.m., the second in Lakeland on August 23 at 5 p.m. Both dates will be doubleheaders.
JUNE SWOON ... The Flying Tigers are glad to see the month of June finally come to a close. After going 18-11 in May with a team batting average of .281 of and a staff ERA of 2.75, Lakeland fell to 9-16 in June. The Flying Tigers batted .250 this past month while the staff ERA ballooned to 3.79 during June. Billy Nowlin had the hot bat for Lakeland in June collecting a .352 average while 31 hits, including four homers and 16 runs batted in. Alden Carrithers, now at Erie, batted .345 for the month with 20 hits and 11 walks.
THE DOOR KEEPS REVOLVING ... Lakeland added one more transaction to a busy week as Bryan Pounds earned a promotion to AA Erie. Taking his spot on the roster is Alexander Moreno who comes up from the Gulf Coast League Tigers. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2008, Moreno played the two previous seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League. The Flying Tigers have added seven players to the roster in the last two weeks.
BRAVO BRANDON ... Brandon Douglas has 10 hits in his last 18 at bats for Lakeland for a .556 margin over the last five games.
HELLO CARMELO ... In his last four games, Carmelo Jaime has seven base hits in 18 at bats for a .389 average.
HOT START ... After being held hitless in two at bats his first game, Samir Rijo has four hits in his last nine at bats for a .364 mark.
FOR REAL VILLARREAL ... Brayan Villarreal has not allowed an earned run over 12.0 innings pitched in his last two starts with 12 strikeouts and just four walks. Villarreal, who ranks seventh in the FSL with a 3.10 ERA, has not lost a game since May 2 and has a 5-0 record with three no-decisions in that span. He is tied for second with a 1.11 WHIP and third with a .222 opponents batting average. Villarreal also ranks fifth with 10.65 baserunners allowed per nine innings.
ATTA BOY ADAM ... Leading the FSL in innings pitched with 91.1 and a 1.08 walks per nine innings mark, Adam Wilk ranks 10th in the FSL with a 3.35 ERA.
COLLEGE TEAMMATES ... Lakeland’s Brent Wyatt and Clearwater pitcher Chris Kissock were teammates at Lewis-Clark State College in 2007. The duo helped the Warriors capture the school’s 15th (of 16) NAIA National Championships.
FIRST ROUNDER ... Clearwater pitcher Phillippe Aumont, a native of Gatineau Quebec, was the Seattle Mariners first-round selection in 2007.
CATS AND DOGS? ... Clearwater outfielder Derrick Mitchell hails from Paw Paw, Michigan. In the last census in 2000, Paw Paw was home to 3,363 citizens.
SON OF A GUN ... Patrick Leyland, son of Detroit Tiger manager Jim Leyland, and Bo McClendon, son of former major leaguer Lloyd McClendon are both on the GCL Tigers roster. Should the younger Leyland earn a promotion to Lakeland, he would join his father on the Tigers’ alumni list as his dad played in Lakeland in 1964 and 1969. The elder Leyland came back to manage Lakeland to Florida State League championships in 1976 and 1977.
DIRKS NAMED TO EASTERN LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM ... Former Lakeland Flying Tiger Andy Dirks has been named to the Eastern League All-Star team along with Erie teammates Brooks Brown and Zach Zimons - both pitchers. Dirks is batting .279 on the season and is third in the Eastern League with 84 hits and fifth with 134 total bases. The outfielder hit .330 in 27 games for the Flying Tigers last season.
TIGER ALUM MAKES THE SHOW ... Former Lakeland Tiger Tarrik Brock (1994 & 1995) has been named interim first base coach for the Florida Marlins. Brock, who has been a roving instructor in the Marlins’ organization, batted .227 in 114 games over his two seasons at Lakeland.
FIREWORKS APLENTY ... Lakeland fans can get their fill of Independence Day fireworks shows this weekend. The Clearwater Threshers are staging fireworks after both the Friday and Saturday home games with Lakeland. Then, of course, Lakeland will hold it’s annual Fourth of July Celebration on Sunday with dual firework shows following the game.
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