Clearwater Clips Brevard County 6-3
Published on April 21, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER - The Clearwater Threshers rode a great start from lefty Hoby Milner and a five-run sixth inning to a 6-3 victory over the visiting Brevard County Manatees in front of 4,092 fans at Bright House Field Saturday night.
The Threshers (8-8) got a strong six-inning performance from Milner (1-2), who allowed just one run in his longest outing of the season. Brevard County (9-7) rallied in the top of the ninth, but couldn't complete the comeback, allowing the Threshers to even up the season series at three games apiece.
Clearwater opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning against Brevard County starter Drew Gagnon (0-2). Center fielder Aaron Altherr drew a one-out walk, and swiped second to put himself in scoring position. First baseman Brock Stassi knocked a single up the middle to bring Altherr home, giving the Threshers an early 1-0 lead.
Brevard County would tie the ballgame in the next inning. Yadiel Rivera led off with a single, and came around to scoreon a double from Lance Roenicke. Roenicke advanced to third on the throw to the plate, but was caught in a rundown when Dionis Hinojosa tapped a grounder back to Milner on the mound. Roenicke was tagged out by third baseman Maikel Franco, and the Threshers evaded any more scoring in the third, keeping the score knotted at 1-1.
Clearwater broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning. Shortstop Jose Mojica led off the frame with a double, and Carlos Alonso worked a one-out walk to put runners on first and second for Franco. The third baseman hit a ball deep in the whole that Rivera couldn't make a great play on, loading the bases for Chris Serritella. Gagnon uncorked a wild pitch that scored Mojica and moved Franco and Alonso to second and third, respectively. Serritella then came through with a single through the left side to plate Alonso, leaving runners on the corners with just one out.
That would do it for Gagnon, whom Manatees manager Joe Ayrault replaced with southpaw Stephen Peterson. Right fielder Cameron Perkins grounded into a force out at second base, but beat the throw to preserve the inning and allow Franco to score from third. After Perkins stole second base, it put a runner in scoring position for Altherr. The Threshers center fielder singled up the middle, and Perkins came home to score on the play. Brevard County catcher Rafael Neda tried to throw Altherr out as he sped towards second, but Neda's throw was wild and rolled deep into center field. Altherr took advantage, racing around to score on the three-base error. When all the dust had cleared, the Threshers held a 6-1 lead.
The Manatees made it interesting in the top of the ninth inning. Greg Hopkins led off with a walk. Threshersreliever Colby Shreve retired the next two batters, putting victory in reach, but allowed a single to Brandon Macias that let Hopkins reach third. Macias went to second on defensive indifference, and a passed ball by catcher Logan Moore gave Hopkins a chance to score and moved Macias to third. Neda then singled up the middle to score Macias, bringing the game within three runs. Threshers manager Chris Truby called in reliever Ryan O'Sullivan, who induced a groundout from Rivera to end the game.
Milner earned the win with six innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits and no walks, fanning five. Ken Giles retired two batters before departing due to injury. Shreve gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in two innings of relief, whiffing three. O'Sullivan retired the only batter he faced for his first save of the season.
Gagnon took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks in 5.1 innings while striking out six. Peterson gave up a run on four hits over 1.2 innings, striking out one. Matt Miller threw a scorelessinning of relief, allowing one hit and striking out two.
The Threshers head to Lakeland on Sunday to take on the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Righty Perci Garner will get the ball for Clearwater against Lakeland rightyDrewVerHagen. Game-time is at 1 p.m., with Ben Gellman's pregame show starting at 12:45 on ThreshersBaseball.com.
Florida State League Stories from April 21, 2013
- 'Tees Top Tampa in Series Opener - Brevard County Manatees
- Cards Win On Walk-Off Homer In 10th - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Cardinals Edge Miracle, 6-5, in 10 Innings - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Flying Tigers Trip Threshers 7-4 - Clearwater Threshers
- Missed Chances Plague Hammerheads In Extra-Innings Loss - Jupiter Hammerheads
- 'Tees Topped Again by Threshers - Brevard County Manatees
- Clearwater Clips Brevard County 6-3 - Clearwater Threshers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
