The Lightning Comeback Falls Short in a 10-7 Loss to the River Rats on Opening Day
(Leesburg, Fla.)- In the Lightning's first game after winning the Florida League title in 2024, the team's pitching and fielding struggled against a competitive River Rats offense.
In the top of the 1st inning, Sanford put up a 7 spot against LHP Josh Cone who struggled to finish off batters after getting ahead in most counts. A single and an error followed by a hit batter was cashed in by a two-run triple by Rats 3B Dawson Harman to make it 2-0 with no outs.
Sanford would see 4 more singles, a hit by pitch, and another error to make it 7-0 heading into the bottom of the 1st inning. Extra hitter Manny Santana drove in 2 of those last 5 runs as well as coming around to score himself.
After a 1-2-3 inning for Josh Cone in the 2nd, the lefty ran into trouble again in the 3rd, giving up an RBI single to Daniel Spicher to make it 8-0.
In the bottom of the 3rd, the Lightning bats woke up as CF Julian Irizarry drove in a run with a base hit before a throwing error from the Sanford left fielder allowed another run to score making it 8-2. SS Ryan Jenkins then drove in a third run with a groundout which made it 8-3.
The River Rats would tack on two more runs in the 6th and 7th against LHP Riley Fitzgerald and RHP Carson Henrikson to make it 10-3 going into the stretch.
A sac fly in the 7th from Ryan Jenkins brought in another run for Leesburg after back-to-back errors from Sanford infielders. Just two batters later, 1B Marco Mueses would plate two more with a two out single before Riley Fitzgerald would draw a bases loaded walk to make it 10-7.
Despite the Lightning bats coming alive in the middle innings, the River Rats bullpen was able to hold on to the three-run lead to capture their first victory of the season.
“A lot of competitive at bats tonight, I was really pleased with that,” said Coach Billings after the loss. “Even with guys getting in two strike counts, I thought they made adjustments, I thought they were not settling for a strikeout, I thought that the guys battled. We got to clean up the defense a little bit and help our pitchers out a little bit.”
The Lightning are right back at it with another matchup against the Sanford River Rats at Pat Thomas Stadium on Saturday the 31st. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)
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Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| King, cf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Puckett, 2b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Harman, 3b |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| Schafer, 1b |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Lopez, rf |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Mock, lf |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Spicher, ss |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Saleeba, c |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Santana, dh |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Pitman, dh |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Batting
2B - Mock
3B - Harman
RBI - Harman 2, Lopez, Spicher, Santana 2, Pitman
GDP - Puckett
HBP - Puckett, Mock, Santana
Baserunning
SB - King, Santana, Pitman
Fielding
E - Puckett, Harman, Mock, Spicher
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Riegel |
3.0 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| Wright, W |
2.0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
| Davidson |
1.2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| Rice |
1.1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Lopez, SV |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Wild Pitches - Davidson
Pitches/Strikes - Riegel 50/27, Wright 46/26, Davidson 33/17, Rice 30/11, Lopez 16/7
Groundouts/Flyouts - Riegel 1/4, Wright 2/0, Davidson 3/1, Rice 2/0, Lopez 2/1
Batters Faced - Riegel 14, Wright 10, Davidson 11, Rice 7, Lopez 4
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Irizarry, cf |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Jenkins, ss |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Keller, rf |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Orozco, 3b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Mueses, 1b |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Socarras, dh |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Fitzgerald, dh/p |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Thurmond, lf |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Pleasant, 2b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Wrubluski, c |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Craft, pr/c |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Keller
RBI - Irizarry, Jenkins 2, Mueses 2, Fitzgerald
HBP - Socarras
Baserunning
SB - Irizarry
Fielding
E - Jenkins 3, Pleasant, Wrubluski
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Fitzgerald, Henrikson, Paniagua
Pitches/Strikes - Cone 67/45, Tipmore 35/19, Fitzgerald 22/13, Henrikson 37/23, Paniagua 20/12
Groundouts/Flyouts - Cone 3/1, Tipmore 3/0, Fitzgerald 1/1, Henrikson 0/2, Paniagua 1/1
Batters Faced - Cone 17, Tipmore 10, Fitzgerald 5, Henrikson 8, Paniagua 4
River Rats
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| King, cf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Puckett, 2b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Harman, 3b |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| Schafer, 1b |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Lopez, rf |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Mock, lf |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Spicher, ss |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Saleeba, c |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Santana, dh |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Pitman, dh |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Batting
2B - Mock
3B - Harman
RBI - Harman 2, Lopez, Spicher, Santana 2, Pitman
GDP - Puckett
HBP - Puckett, Mock, Santana
Baserunning
SB - King, Santana, Pitman
Fielding
E - Puckett, Harman, Mock, Spicher
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Riegel |
3.0 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| Wright, W |
2.0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
| Davidson |
1.2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| Rice |
1.1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Lopez, SV |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Wild Pitches - Davidson
Pitches/Strikes - Riegel 50/27, Wright 46/26, Davidson 33/17, Rice 30/11, Lopez 16/7
Groundouts/Flyouts - Riegel 1/4, Wright 2/0, Davidson 3/1, Rice 2/0, Lopez 2/1
Batters Faced - Riegel 14, Wright 10, Davidson 11, Rice 7, Lopez 4
Lightning
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Irizarry, cf |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Jenkins, ss |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Keller, rf |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Orozco, 3b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Mueses, 1b |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Socarras, dh |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Fitzgerald, dh/p |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Thurmond, lf |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Pleasant, 2b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Wrubluski, c |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Craft, pr/c |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Keller
RBI - Irizarry, Jenkins 2, Mueses 2, Fitzgerald
HBP - Socarras
Baserunning
SB - Irizarry
Fielding
E - Jenkins 3, Pleasant, Wrubluski
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Fitzgerald, Henrikson, Paniagua
Pitches/Strikes - Cone 67/45, Tipmore 35/19, Fitzgerald 22/13, Henrikson 37/23, Paniagua 20/12
Groundouts/Flyouts - Cone 3/1, Tipmore 3/0, Fitzgerald 1/1, Henrikson 0/2, Paniagua 1/1
Batters Faced - Cone 17, Tipmore 10, Fitzgerald 5, Henrikson 8, Paniagua 4
Scoring Plays
Top 1st
Dawson Harman tripled to right field, 2 RBI. Stewart Puckett scored. Cameron King scored.
Xavier Lopez singled to right center, RBI. Dawson Harman scored.
Manny Santana singled to left center, 2 RBI. Anthony Saleeba advanced to third. Dawson Mock scored. Xavier Lopez scored.
Manny Santana stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by c. Anthony Saleeba scored on the error.
Cooper Pitman singled to first base, out at second p to ss, RBI. Manny Santana scored, unearned.
Top 3rd
Daniel Spicher singled through the left side, advanced to second on the throw, RBI. Dawson Mock scored.
Bottom 3rd
Julian Irizarry singled to left field, advanced to second on a throwing error by lf, RBI. Nicholas Wrubluski advanced to second, advanced to third on the error. Eli Thurmond advanced to third, scored on the error. Riley Fitzgerald scored.
Ryan Jenkins grounded out to ss, RBI. Julian Irizarry advanced to third. Nicholas Wrubluski scored, unearned.
Top 6th
Cameron King stole second. Cooper Pitman scored on a throwing error by ss, unearned.
Top 7th
Xavier Lopez advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dawson Harman scored on a wild pitch.
Bottom 7th
Ryan Jenkins fouled out to rf, SF, RBI. Trey Craft advanced to third. Ledger Pleasant scored, unearned.
Marco Mueses singled through the left side, 2 RBI. Juan Orozco advanced to second. Charlie Keller scored, unearned. Trey Craft scored, unearned.
Riley Fitzgerald walked, RBI. TJ Socarras advanced to second. Marco Mueses advanced to third. Juan Orozco scored.
All Plays
Top 1st
Cameron King singled to shortstop, advanced to second on a throwing error by ss.
Stewart Puckett hit by pitch.
Dawson Harman tripled to right field, 2 RBI. Stewart Puckett scored. Cameron King scored.
Bruno Schafer struck out swinging.
1 out
Xavier Lopez singled to right center, RBI. Dawson Harman scored.
Dawson Mock hit by pitch. Xavier Lopez advanced to second.
Daniel Spicher struck out swinging.
2 out
Anthony Saleeba singled to pitcher. Dawson Mock advanced to second. Xavier Lopez advanced to third.
Manny Santana singled to left center, 2 RBI. Anthony Saleeba advanced to third. Dawson Mock scored. Xavier Lopez scored.
Manny Santana stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by c. Anthony Saleeba scored on the error.
Cooper Pitman singled to first base, out at second p to ss, RBI. Manny Santana scored, unearned.
3 out
Bottom 1st
Julian Irizarry struck out swinging.
1 out
Ryan Jenkins struck out swinging.
2 out
Charlie Keller flied out to lf.
3 out
Top 2nd
Cameron King grounded out to p.
1 out
Stewart Puckett struck out swinging.
2 out
Dawson Harman grounded out to c unassisted.
3 out
Bottom 2nd
Juan Orozco flied out to lf.
1 out
Marco Mueses popped up to ss.
2 out
TJ Socarras struck out looking.
3 out
Top 3rd
Bruno Schafer grounded out to ss.
1 out
Xavier Lopez flied out to rf.
2 out
Dawson Mock doubled to right center.
Daniel Spicher singled through the left side, advanced to second on the throw, RBI. Dawson Mock scored.
Blake Tipmore replaces Josh Cone at pitcher.
Anthony Saleeba struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 3rd
Riley Fitzgerald singled up the middle.
Eli Thurmond singled to shortstop. Riley Fitzgerald advanced to second.
Ledger Pleasant struck out swinging.
1 out
Nicholas Wrubluski walked. Eli Thurmond advanced to second. Riley Fitzgerald advanced to third.
Julian Irizarry singled to left field, advanced to second on a throwing error by lf, RBI. Nicholas Wrubluski advanced to second, advanced to third on the error. Eli Thurmond advanced to third, scored on the error. Riley Fitzgerald scored.
Ryan Jenkins grounded out to ss, RBI. Julian Irizarry advanced to third. Nicholas Wrubluski scored, unearned.
2 out
Juan Orozco flied out to cf.
3 out
Top 4th
Manny Santana hit by pitch.
Cooper Pitman struck out swinging.
1 out
Cameron King reached on a fielding error by 2b. Manny Santana advanced to second.
Stewart Puckett grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b. Cameron King out on the play.
3 out
Bottom 4th
Brady Wright replaces Jacob Riegel at pitcher.
Marco Mueses singled up the middle.
TJ Socarras struck out swinging.
1 out
Riley Fitzgerald grounded out to ss. Marco Mueses advanced to second.
2 out
Ledger Pleasant struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 5th
Dawson Harman struck out looking.
1 out
Bruno Schafer grounded out to 3b.
2 out
Dawson Mock walked. Xavier Lopez advanced to second.
Daniel Spicher grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 5th
Nicholas Wrubluski struck out swinging.
1 out
Julian Irizarry struck out swinging.
2 out
Ryan Jenkins singled up the middle.
Charlie Keller doubled to right field. Ryan Jenkins advanced to third.
Juan Orozco grounded out to 3b.
3 out
Top 6th
Riley Fitzgerald replaces at pitcher.
/ replaces Blake Tipmore at .
Anthony Saleeba struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b.
1 out
Manny Santana grounded out to ss.
2 out
Cooper Pitman singled through the right side.
Cooper Pitman stole second.
Cooper Pitman advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Cameron King stole second. Cooper Pitman scored on a throwing error by ss, unearned.
Stewart Puckett flied out to cf.
3 out
Bottom 6th
Nicholas Davidson replaces Brady Wright at pitcher.
Marco Mueses singled to second base, advanced to second on a throwing error by 2b.
Marco Mueses advanced to third on a wild pitch.
TJ Socarras grounded out to p.
1 out
Riley Fitzgerald struck out looking.
2 out
Eli Thurmond grounded out to ss up the middle.
3 out
Top 7th
Riley Fitzgerald replaces at designated hitter.
Carson Henrikson replaces at pitcher.
Bruno Schafer flied out to cf.
1 out
Xavier Lopez singled up the middle. Dawson Harman advanced to third.
Xavier Lopez advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dawson Harman scored on a wild pitch.
Dawson Mock struck out swinging.
2 out
Daniel Spicher struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 7th
Ledger Pleasant reached on a fielding error by ss.
Nicholas Wrubluski reached on a fielding error by 3b. Ledger Pleasant advanced to second.
Trey Craft replaces Nicholas Wrubluski at .
Julian Irizarry grounded out to p. Trey Craft advanced to second. Ledger Pleasant advanced to third.
1 out
Ryan Jenkins fouled out to rf, SF, RBI. Trey Craft advanced to third. Ledger Pleasant scored, unearned.
2 out
Juan Orozco walked. Charlie Keller advanced to second.
Marco Mueses singled through the left side, 2 RBI. Juan Orozco advanced to second. Charlie Keller scored, unearned. Trey Craft scored, unearned.
Colby Rice replaces Nicholas Davidson at pitcher.
Marco Mueses advanced to second on a passed ball. Juan Orozco advanced to third on a passed ball.
TJ Socarras hit by pitch.
Riley Fitzgerald walked, RBI. TJ Socarras advanced to second. Marco Mueses advanced to third. Juan Orozco scored.
Eli Thurmond struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 8th
Trey Craft replaces at catcher.
Anthony Saleeba reached on a throwing error by ss, advanced to second on the error.
Manny Santana flied out to ss.
1 out
Anthony Saleeba out at second p to 2b, picked off.
2 out
Cooper Pitman struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 8th
Ledger Pleasant struck out looking.
1 out
Julian Irizarry reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Trey Craft out at second ss to 2b.
2 out
Julian Irizarry stole second.
Ryan Jenkins grounded out to ss.
3 out
Top 9th
Jose Paniagua replaces Carson Henrikson at pitcher.
Cameron King grounded out to ss.
1 out
Stewart Puckett struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b.
2 out
Dawson Harman advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Bruno Schafer flied out to lf.
3 out
Bottom 9th
Kaiden Lopez replaces Colby Rice at pitcher.
Juan Orozco flied out to cf.
1 out
Marco Mueses grounded out to c. Charlie Keller advanced to second.
2 out
TJ Socarras grounded out to p.
3 out
