Threshers Looking to End Half as the Spoilers

Sarasota Clinches Playoff Berth Despite Effort of the Threshers

The Threshers went into the final three-game series of the first half trailing the Sarasota Reds by three games. They needed to sweep the series to tie the Reds for first in the division, but lost the first game in the series on a come-from-behind rally by the Reds in the eighth inning last night. With their playoff hopes dashed for the first half of the year the best the Threshers could do now was to play the spoiler and keep Sarasota out of the playoffs as well.

The Reds looked to put those hopes to rest early getting two first-inning runs to grab an early lead. The Threshers got back in the game quickly though as they picked up four runs of their own in the second inning on four doubles from Nic Jackson, Welinson Baez, and 2-RBI doubles from Brian Burgamy and Greg Golson.

Showing that this was going to be a fight to the finish, the Reds battled back picking up two more runs in the second inning to tie the game at 4-4 and make it a whole new ballgame.

That score would hold on until the fifth inning when the Threshers picked up two runs on a 2-RBI double from Clay Harris, but the lead would prove short lived as the Reds jumped on top in the bottom of the inning picking up three runs (two unearned on a throwing error by Brad Harman) of their own to lead 7-6.

The Threshers proved difficult to stop though showing they still had life in them picking up two runs before the seventh inning stretch to take their third lead of the game at 8-7 on the strength of a Lou Marson single, a Clay Harris walk, and a 2-RBI triple from Welinson Baez.

At about that same point the Tampa Yankees game became final making the outcome of this battle for nothing but pride as Tampa's loss meant that Sarasota had clinched the first-half division title regardless of the outcome of this game and the final game of the half on Wednesday night versus the Threshers.

Pride aside, Sarasota wanted to show that they earned their playoff berth by battling back into the game after the seventh inning stretch tying the game once again, this time at 8-8 sending the game to the final two frames as a real nail biter. The game went on until the ninth still tied at eight with each team getting one last chance to end the game in regulation.

On this night it would be the Threshers who capitalized on that opportunity picking up two runs in the final inning and winning by a final score of 10-8. As mentioned earlier however, Sarasota still managed to clinch a playoof spot despite the loss to the Threshers thanks to a loss by the Tampa Yankees. With just one game remaining in the half, the Rreds lead Tampa by 1.5 and the Threshers by three games.