FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Clearwater Can't Catch Manatees in Loss

Published on April 28, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER -- The Clearwater Threshers played another tight ballgame on Monday, but the Brevard County Manatees squeaked by to hand the Threshers a 6-5 loss on Monday night.

K.C. Serna delivered Clearwater's first four-hit performance of the season, while Pete Lavin finished just a triple short of the cycle.

Clearwater (5-19) has now played ten games this season that have been determined by just one run. The Threshers are now 2-8 in those contests.

Lavin opened the scoring in the first inning when he crushed a 3-1 offering from Jorge Lopez for a no-doubter to right field, bumping the Threshers ahead 1-0.

Brevard County (12-12) answered with a three-spot off starter Jeb Stefan in the second. Nathan Orf was hit by a pitch with one out, and a Brandon Macias double tied the ballgame. After a walk and a wild pitch, Michael Garza gave the Manatees the lead on an RBI grounder to short.

Major League rehabber Logan Shafer extended the Brevard County advantage with a double to right-center, making it 3-1.

The Manatees plated two more in the third inning to go ahead 5-1.

The Threshers, however, began to chip away in the fourth inning.

Serna put a bunt single down the third base line to begin the frame, and Lavin followed by ripping an opposite-field double off the wall in left. The double scored Serna, and the relay throw was spiked by shortstop Orlando Arcia, allowing Lavin to come all the way around and score as well to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Clearwater inched closer an inning later. After an eight-pitch at-bat, Gabriel Lino singled through the right side to open the inning. A sac bunt moved him to second, and Angelo Mora served a single to center to score Lino.

The Manatees pushed across a key insurance run in the sixth.

With one down, Jose Sermo singled off reliever Jordan Guth and advanced to second on a ground out. Sermo then took off for third, and Lino's throw from behind the plate skipped past third baseman Anthony Phillips for an error, permitting Sermo to come in and score.

That ended up proving the difference in the ballgame, as the Threshers brought across a run of their own in the bottom half. With men on the corners and one down, Lino lifted a fly ball to right that allowed Art Charles to tag and score from third, making it a 6-5 game after the sacrifice fly.

Stefan (1-2) suffered the loss, as he was charged with five runs - four earned - on eight hits across five innings. He issued a season-high four walks, and struck out three.

Lopez (2-2) was credited with the victory for Brevard County. He turned in 5.2 innings and permitted five runs - three earned - on seven hits and a walk, setting a season-high with seven strikeouts. Tanner Poppe earned his sixth save.

Clearwater will look to even up the series on Tuesday as the Threshers host Brevard County for game two, beginning at 7 p.m. The game can be heard live on threshersbaseball.com starting at 6:45 p.m.

It will also be Dollar Tuesday at Bright House Field, with general admission tickets, hot dogs, 16 oz. sodas, ice cream sandwiches, and more all available for just one dollar each.

Check out the Clearwater Threshers Statistics

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Florida State League Stories from April 28, 2014


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