FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Clearwater Clinches First Half Title

Published on June 24, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER, Fla. - With one week left in the first half, the Clearwater Threshers were five games back of Daytona with just five games remaining.

On Wednesday, that deficit was a memory as the Threshers flooded the field as first half champions of the Florida State League North.

Clearwater spun off five consecutive victories to wrap up first-half play, capping off the improbable comeback with a sweep of the Daytona Tortugas, as the Threshers clinched their first playoff berth since 2007.

Although the Threshers (37-33) finished with same record as Daytona, they own the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating the Tortugas in eight of their 12 meetings.

Colin Kleven delivered a clutch performance on the hill in the finale, at one point tallying a streak of six-straight strikeouts through the second and third innings. Kleven (5-3) earned the win in the decisive game after allowing just two hits in 5.2 innings.

The day began with a lengthy rain delay, before the resumption of Tuesday's suspended game kicked off just after 1:30 p.m.

Clearwater had held a 1-0 lead through the first two innings, but Phillip Ervin quickly gave Daytona the advantage after play resumed. Ervin's two-run homer off Yacksel Rios (2-2) boosted the Tortugas out in front.

The Threshers bounced back with a three-spot in the fourth inning.

Angelo Mora delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the game at two, and Drew Stankieiwcz followed by dropping a double into left-center that brought home two more runs and gave the Threshers a 4-2 edge.

Daytona fought back again with a pair of runs in the sixth, but the Threshers responded promptly with effective small ball in the home half.

After a walk and a bunt single, Mora sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Stankiewicz blooped a single into left for his third RBI of the game, and Carlos Tocci laid down a squeeze bunt to push across Mitch Walding and give Clearwater the 6-4 lead.

Miguel Nunez and Edubray Ramos took it from there, as the two relievers combined to retire all nine men they faced. Ramos worked the final two innings to pick up his sixth save.

In the series finale, it was Kleven who led the charge.

The All-Star hurler matched a season-high with eight strikeouts in his 5.2 innings, permitting two hits and three walks in the win. His only blemish came on an Alex Blandino solo homer in the sixth inning.

Clearwater scraped across a run in the first against Barrett Astin (4-3), as Stankiewicz doubled and later scored the game's first tally on a wild pitch.

Three-straight one out singles loaded the bases for Clearwater in the fourth, and Chace Numata's ground ball fielder's choice permitted Aaron Brown to score. The relay to first was thrown away by the shortstop Blandino, resulting in another run as Andrew Knapp scampered home to make it 3-0.

Daytona gave the Threshers little breathing room after Blandino and Robert Ramirez went back-to-back with solo shots in the sixth, and the Tortugas managed to put the tying run on second with one down in the final frame.

Ulises Joaquin battled Joe Hudson through an eight-pitch at bat before Hudson swung and missed at a ball in the dirt for the second out. Jon Matthews entered as a pinch hitter, and Joaquin induced a grounder to short to end the game, punching the Threshers ticket to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

Clearwater kicks off second-half play on Thursday, as the Threshers head to Dunedin for a 6:30 p.m. game. David Whitehead (4-6) will take the hill for Clearwater, and the call can be heard live beginning at 6:10 on the Threshers Broadcast Network.

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Florida State League Stories from June 24, 2015


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