Squeeze Fall to Rats Despite Late Rally

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — On a scorching Thursday night at Horizon Park, the Winter Garden Squeeze (11-13) dropped their third straight game and second of the week against the Sanford River Rats (10-14), falling 6-5.

Nick Rich (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical) made his fourth start of the season for Winter Garden and set the tone early, retiring the River Rats in order through the first two innings. On the other side, Brian Kendall (Undecided) also cruised early, retiring the Squeeze in order in the first before running into trouble in the second.

Back-to-back singles by Leonardo Suarez (Polk State) and Carlos Fuenmayor (Lake Sumter State), along with a hit-by-pitch to Joshua Schaller (Florida Polytechnic), loaded the bases with one out.

Peyson Garcia's (Undecided) fielder's choice allowed two runs to score after Sanford second baseman Caleb Scott (Undecided) attempted to turn an inning-ending double play but threw wide of first base.

Sanford answered immediately in the top of the third. Adonys Velez (Undecided) reached on an error by Schaller, and Sean Stafford (Folsom Lake) followed with a single to right field before Michael Thomas (Undecided) launched a three-run home run to left, giving the River Rats a 3-2 lead.

The power surge continued in the fourth when Drew Pynes (Georgia Southern) led off the inning with a solo home run down the left-field line, extending Sanford's advantage to 4-2.

The River Rats added two more runs in the fifth. Jack Sanchez (Keiser) uncorked a wild pitch that allowed one run to score, and Sanford later executed a double steal, with Scott stealing home to push the lead to 6-2.

The Squeeze mounted a late comeback. With two outs in the seventh, Fuenmayor singled for his second hit of the night, and Schaller drew another walk to put runners on first and second. Garcia followed with an opposite-field RBI single to left, scoring Fuenmayor and trimming the deficit to 6-3.

Winter Garden continued to chip away in the eighth. Alex Galan (Lake Sumter State) led off with a single and stole second to move into scoring position. Javier Calzadilla (Hillsborough) doubled off the wall in right-center field to score Galan, making it 6-4.

Suarez then took advantage of a 3-0 green light, driving a double off the left-field wall to plate Calzadilla and pull the Squeeze within one.

Garcia singled with one out in the ninth to bring the tying run aboard, but Tyler Garcia (Lake Sumter State) closed the door for Sanford, striking out the final two batters to earn his second save of the summer.

The Squeeze travel to Orlando on Friday for a doubleheader against the Snappers. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 4 p.m., with Game 2 beginning approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opener.

Zach Moore (Florida)