Rats Fall to Squeeze's Late Inning Surge

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. - The Sanford River Rats jumped out to an early four-run lead, but the Winter Garden Squeeze stormed back with six runs over the sixth and seventh innings to claim a 9-5 victory.

Sanford wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Drew Pynes lined a double down the left-field line, driving in Nick Upperman and Jordan Marlo for a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, Zach Walker added an RBI single through the left side to score Pynes and extend the advantage to 3-0.

The River Rats added another run in the second when Adonys Velez doubled into the right-center-field gap, bringing home Jake Schincariol to make it 4-0.

Winter Garden chipped away at the lead in the third after Javier Calzadilla singled, allowing Osjun Rivas to score on a Sanford error. The Squeeze cut the deficit to one in the fourth when Brody Bellomo delivered a two-run single through the right side, making it a 4-3 game.

After Sanford starter Brock Bracher exited, Winter Garden broke through in the sixth. Colson May tied the game with an RBI double before RBI singles from Javier Calzadilla and Edwin Melendez gave the Squeeze a 6-4 advantage.

The River Rats responded in the seventh when Velez launched a solo home run to left-center field, trimming the deficit to 6-5. However, Winter Garden answered immediately. Brody Bellomo drew a bases-loaded walk, and Colson May added an RBI single as the Squeeze pushed the lead to 8-5.

Winter Garden added an insurance run in the seventh and never looked back in the 9-5 win.

Sanford will have Wednesday off before hosting the Leesburg Lightning on Thursday.

Alejandro Landers (Elon University)