L-Tigers Turn Four Double Plays in Win

Lakeland moves within 2.5 games of Fort Myers with 10 games to go in the first half.

By DAVID YATES
Lakeland Ledger

LAKELAND - Round one of the West Division first-half pennant showdown went to Lakeland on Thursday night.

The L-Tigers moved to within 2.5 games of first place by tripping Fort Myers, 3-2, before 240 Florida State League baseball fans at Joker Marchant Stadium.

With 10 games to go in the first half, Lakeland is now 31-28, while Fort Myers and Dunedin are both 34-26. The Blue Jays lost to the Tampa Yankees, 2-1, Thursday.

Miracle starter Justin Jones (1-1) retired the first six Tiger batters but Clete Thomas worked him for a walk to lead off the third.

Brent Dlugach followed with a double down the line in left and Gilberto Mejia tied the 1-1 with a sacrifice fly.

Nick McIntyre then put Lakeland up, 2-1, with a double to right and McIntyre raced home when Miracle second baseman Matt Tolbert booted Jeff Frazier's grounder.

Fort Myers out-hit Lakeland 8 to 4, but the Tiger defense turned four double plays, including a spectacular one in the fifth.

With Lakeland up, 3-2, the bases loaded, and one man out, Matt Tolbert lofted what looked to be a game-tying sacrifice fly to center.

But Clete Thomas rifled a perfect strike home and Chris Robinson held on to the ball despite a jarring collision with opposing catcher Korey Feiner as Lakeland preserved its 3-2 lead.

FSL All-Star Jair Jurrjens (50, 2.01) is expected to oppose Miracle southpaw Brian Duensing (0-0, 0.00) in the second game of the three-game series tonight at 7.