SANFORD, Fla. – The Leesburg Lightning (15-20) and Sanford River Rats (22-13) conclude their three-game set tonight as they return to Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
After falling in game one of the series on Thursday night, 10-4, the Lightning returned back home to Pat Thomas Stadium – Buddy Lowe Field on Friday night and picked up an all-important 8-6 win.
“We gave ourselves an opportunity to get a huge series win,” Head Coach Rich Billings said. “With only 10 games remaining, we know we need to pick up series wins. Last night’s win will hopefully help to remind us of that.”
With a 6-4 lead in the eighth inning, Leesburg was in a tough position with runners on second and third with one out. A slow dribbler made its way to Josh Pagliei at second base and without much hesitation, he rushed the throw to Harrison Scanlon at first, resulting in a throwing error that allowed both runners to score to tie the game.
No problem for the Lightning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Austin Simmons lined a shot into right field that just got over the right fielder’s glove resulting in an RBI triple to give Leesburg the lead once again, 7-6. Scanlon responded one batter later with another RBI, scoring Simmons to make it 8-6.
The Lightning held on in the ninth, escaping with a crucial victory over the first place River Rats.
“Austin continues to swing a hot bat,” Billings said after the game. “He came through with some huge hits for us tonight, and that’s one of the reasons why he’s in the lineup every single night.”
After an atmosphere at Pat Thomas Stadium on Friday night that was both controversial at times, and slightly heated, the Lightning will look to recapture that same glory tonight as they are now tied for the final playoff spot in the Florida League.
Lightning Starting Lineup
- Nixon – SS
- A. Simmons – CF
- Scanlon – 1B
- C. Simmons – 3B
- Long – RF
- Bonilla – LF
- Baez – C
- Harris – DH
- Pagliei – 2B
On the mound: Chris Lake
Lake comes into tonight’s series finale with a 2-3 record and a 4.88 ERA. After throwing 6.2 innings on July 4, in a win over Winter Park, Lake has faltered in his last two starts. He’s allowed nine runs (five earned) in four innings of work over those two starts and is looking for a new result tonight.
In two appearances against the River Rats, Lake has allowed just one earned run in four innings.
Inside The Bolt 