FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Clearwater Splits Twin Bill with Florida

Published on August 1, 2019 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers opened the month of August with a split in a doubleheader against the Florida Fire Frogs at Osceola County Stadium on Thursday afternoon. Clearwater won the first game in nine innings, 3-2, but dropped the back end, 6-0.

The Threshers had to play from behind in both contests, but were able to complete the comeback victory in game one.

Trailing 2-0 heading into the fifth, Matt Kroon started things out with a double. Daniel Brito put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner over, and Rafael Marchan drove the man home with a single to left to cut into the deficit.

Clearwater (56-53, 20-23) tied it up with a rally in the seventh. Luke Miller banged a double into left, and was replaced by Dalton Guthrie as a pinch runner. Kroon dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Guthrie up to third, and Brito's RBI fielder's choice knotted the match at two apiece.

Both teams exchanged goose eggs in the eighth before the visitors took a lead in the ninth.

With Simon Muzziotti at second, Madison Stokes hit a grounder to third. Jordan Rodgers' toss to first pulled Drew Lugbauer off the bag, allowing Stokes to reach first safely and give Clearwater runners and first and second with nobody out.

After a sacrifice bunt by Matt Vierling advanced both base runners, Guthrie dropped a single into shallow right field to plate Muzziotti for the go-ahead run.

Muzziotti finished to game with three hits. The left-handed batter doubled on the first pitch he saw in the second inning, and singled in the fourth and sixth for his eighth three-hit performance of the season.

Austin Ross (SV, 3) worked a perfect ninth to earn his third save of the season.

Tyler Carr (3-1) worked two shutout frames in relief to earn the win. The right-handed hurler got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning by inducing an around-the-horn double play off the bat of Jefrey Ramos.

Game two saw Florida (41-67, 16-26) jump out to another 2-0 lead over Clearwater, but the road team could not complete the comeback to wrap up the series.

Andrew Brown (2-6) took the loss for the Threshers. The starter allowed four runs on seven hits, two walks and five strikeouts.

Clearwater welcomes the Tampa Tarpons to town for a three-game series at Spectrum Field beginning Friday night. It has yet to be determined who will take the mound for either side in the series opener. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. with Threshers Live! The Pregame Show on threshersbaseball.com.

Friday features the rescheduled date for Pitch for Pink at the ballpark. The annual Breast Cancer awareness night and fundraiser for the Morton Plant Mease Foundation returns with a special pregame on-field Survivor's Walk, the Pink silent auction and raffle including the pink game day player jerseys and gift cards from local businesses.

Friday is also Tampa Bay Times Family Friday at Spectrum Field. Fans can check the Thursday Weekend and Friday regional sections of the paper for the Family Pack coupon. For just $16, fans receive two box seats, two hot dogs, two chips, and two soft drinks! (Redeemable only at the BayCare Box Office at Spectrum Field with coupon.)

The first 1,000 fans through the gates on Friday will receive an Aaron Nola bobblehead, capturing Nola's professional debut season in Clearwater in 2014.

Fans will also be treated to an amazing post-game fireworks display, presented by Banquet Masters.

Check out the Clearwater Threshers Statistics

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Florida State League Stories from August 1, 2019


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