Clearwater Downs Palm Beach 4-1 Sunday
Published on May 5, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
JUPITER (May 5, 2013) - The Clearwater Threshers took an early lead and never relinquished it against the Palm Beach Cardinals, taking the victory 4-1 Sunday afternoon in front of an announced crowd of 360 at Roger Dean Stadium.
The Threshers (14-15) rebounded from an extra-innings loss the night before, jumping ahead of Palm Beach (14-16) in the second inning. The win marked a turning point for the Threshers in low-scoring games, as it marked the first time in 2013 they had won a game without scoring at least five runs.
Clearwater opened the scoring in the top of the second inning against Palm Beach starter Ryan Sherriff (0-1), making his season debut. Right fielder Cameron Perkins slashed a one-out double up the third base line to put himself in scoring position. First baseman Brock Stassi hammered a ball to right that one-hopped off the fence. Perkins scored, and Stassi raced around to third for an RBI triple. Shortstop Jose Mojica hit a pop up into right field that found some open space to fall in for a single, with Stassi scoring on the play to make it 2-0 in favor of the Threshers.
The Cardinals cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third against Threshers starter Gabriel Arias. Nick Longmire hit a fly ball that Perkins couldn't catch at the wall, and reached third with a leadoff triple. Adam Ehrlich hit a high bouncer to first and beat Stassi to the bag, with Longmire scoring to make it a 2-1 game. After Tyler Rahmatulla singled through the left side and Matt Williams flew out to right, Colin Walsh drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Arias rose to the occasion, though, fanning Stephen Piscotty and inducing a fly-out to left from Cody Stanley to end the inning.
The Threshers added a run back to their total in the top of the sixth against new reliever Jose Almarante. Left fielder Aaron Altherr cracked a one-out double to center field to put himself in scoring position. Third baseman Maikel Franco hit a grounder to short, but first baseman Danny Stienstra mishandled the throw and the ball went into the dugout. Altherr scored on the error, making it 3-1 Threshers. Clearwater tacked on one more run in the top of the eighth when second baseman Carlos Alonso powered the first pitch he saw over the left field wall for a solo homer, making it 4-1.
Arias got the win with seven solid innings, allowing a run on seven hits and two walks while fanning five. Luis Garcia picked up his second save of the season with two scoreless innings, with two hits and a walk tempered by two strikeouts.
Sherriff took the loss, surrendering two runs on three hits against five strikeouts over five innings pitched. Almarante gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out three in his 2.1 innings on the mound. Heath Wyatt allowed a hit in 1.2 scoreless innings, striking out one.
Clearwater will look for another win Monday morning against Palm Beach, with southpaw Nick Hernandez starting for the Threshers against Cardinals lefty Jonathan Cornelius. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m., with Ben Gellman's pregame show scheduled for 10:20 a.m.
Florida State League Stories from May 5, 2013
- Manatees' Bats Crush Charlotte - Brevard County Manatees
- Clearwater Downs Palm Beach 4-1 Sunday - Clearwater Threshers
- Miracle Commit Five Errors, Lose to Yankees 8-2 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Clearwater Nipped 9-8 by Tampa in Eleven - Clearwater Threshers
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