In the first game of Tuesday night's double header a scoreless ballgame was ended in the top of the fifth inning when Clay Harris lead off for the Threshers with a solo home run to finally put the Threshers on the board at 1-0. Threshers starter Saz Stott meanwhile kept the Flying Tigers in check hodling them scoreless through five on five hits.

In the sixth inning Jake Blalock picked up a single, and then scored on a double from Clay Harris as he added another RBI for the team and a bit of insurance in this close game. Will Savage came on out of the bullpen for the Threshers to hold Lakeland scoreless for anothe fram an take things into the final inning with the Threshers on top 2-0.

Not content to rest easy with a two-run lead, the Threshers offense fianlly perked up in the seventh adding three runs on hits from Brad Harman and Matt Thayer, a walk from Jeremy Slayden followed by a 2-rbu shot from Lou Marson, and a sac fly for an rbi from Jake Blalock that lifted the Threshers to a 5-0 lead going into the last at bat for the Flying Tigers.

In the bottom of the seventh RJ Swindle came in to retire the side on three straight Ks and after one of two the Threshers were happy.

While the rain was delaying the second game of the Clearwater/Lakeland double header both Tampa and Dunedin lost their games on the night moving the Threshers to within 2.5 game of Tampa and just one game behind Dunedin in the standings. A win in the second game tonight then suddenly takes on more importance as the season comes to a close and the playoff race heats up.

Once the Threshers did finally hit the field for the second game it would be Brett Harker who took the mound for the team in a somewhat unusual turn of events. It had been 13 game winner Andrew Carpenter's turn in the rotation, so let's hope there is nothing wrong with him tonight. Harker had been on the DL for the team and had not pitched in a game since July 2nd, and he had not started a game since 2005 when he played with the Batavia Muckdogs in the NY-Penn League.

Despite the long layoff, Harker proved up to the task as he went three innings giving up one run on three hits, but left the game with the Threshers behind 1-0. JJ Trujillo came on in relief of Harker in the fourth and held the Tigers scoreless into the fifth when the Threshers offense broke out picking up three runs. The inning started with a hit from Hector Made and then after an out by Matt Thayer back-to-back RBI doubles from Brad Harman and Jason Donald were followed by an RBI single from Jeremy Slayden.

IN the bottom of the inning Lakeland picked up a run to cut the lead to 3-2, but the Threshers added three more runs in the sixth inning to take a lead they would never relinquish. John Suomi homered to start things, then a single from Clay Harris was followed by a 2-rbi home run from John Urick to give the team a 6-2 lead.

In the final inning RJ Swindle came in to shut down the Flying Tigers as he had done in the first game of the night. Though he did not make as quick of work of the second game he did manage to get the Threshers out of the inning after two hits and no runs and the team was sent home winners of two and 1.5 games closer in the standings just two games behind the Yankees.

With just three weeks worth of game remaining it has gotten down to crunch time. Though the team has been more sucessful than any previous Threshers team, both the fans and the players should be disappointed if the team does not make the post season. The team is just two games back at this point which is definitely within striking distance. Nine of the reamining games are against the two teams ahead of them in the standings, so a strong showing from here on out will definitely be required.

Every fan capable of getting out to the park needs to get out for as many games possible (even the road games) and show this team that we support them, and that we care!