FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Clearwater Strikes Late to Take Down Charlotte

Published on July 26, 2019 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER, Fla. - For the second consecutive night, the Clearwater Beach Dogs rallied against the Charlotte Stone Crabs late to win 6-5 and take the first two of a four-game set at Spectrum Field on Friday night. The victory puts the Philadelphia Phillies' affiliate 3.5 back of first in the Florida State League North division.

The Stone Crabs (62-41, 27-10) gave Clearwater (54-50, 18-20) early trouble just two batters into the game. After Michael Smith reached first on an error, Wander Franco drove a double to right field against Andrew Brown for a 1-0 lead. A batter later, Kaleo Johnson singled to right to extend Charlotte's lead to 2-0.

Brown battled again in the second when a walk to Zach Rutherford and single by Jake Palomaki put two on for Charlotte. A bunt back to Brown by Smith pushed Rutherford home from third and made it a 3-0 game. The 21-year-old worked around a hit in the third for a scoreless frame and gave the Beach Dogs a chance to rally in the bottom of the frame.

Against Tobias Myers, Nick Matera drew a leadoff walk and a Matt Kroon single pushed singled two on with nobody out. After a flyout from Dalton Guthrie advanced Matera to third, Daniel Brito put Clearwater on the board with a sacrifice fly to left and cut Charlotte's lead to 3-1.

Brown kept the Beach Dogs in the game after the third-inning run with two consecutive scoreless innings with just one hit allowed in the fourth and fifth. The Alpine, Calif. native finished with five solid frames with two earned runs allowed on six hits. Despite the no-decision, the right-hander has allowed just four earned runs over his last 10 innings.

After Myers exited to start the fifth, Mike Franco entered in relief and struggled with command. The first two were retired by the reliever before Kroon belted a triple to right over the head of Moises Gomez. With Guthrie batting, Franco was called for a balk that allowed Kroon to score to bring the Beach Dogs within a run at 3-2.

Charlotte answered in the sixth when Gomez led off against Kyle Arjona with a home run to left to increase the Stone Crab lead to 4-2.

In the bottom of the frame, Franco again struggled. The right-hander hit Brito, then allowed a walk to Simon Muzziotti. After striking out Jhailyn Ortiz for the first out, Nick Maton punched a single to right field to score both runners and knot the game at four. The No. 17 prospect for the Phillies has recorded 42 RBI, second on the team behind Ortiz.

The game would not stay tied for long, as Arjona missed with a pitch against Kaleo Johnson that pushed Smith home for the go-ahead run in the seventh and made it 5-4. The side-arm reliever escaped the frame without further damage and paved the way for Austin Ross (5-1). The new pitcher finished a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts and opened the door for the Beach Dogs in the bottom of the frame.

With Chandler Raiden (4-3) in his third inning of work, Ortiz belted a one-out double and Maton followed with a single to second to put runners at the corners. Madison Stokes evened the score at five with a sharp ground ball to short that got past Franco, scoring Ortiz. Raiden was done in on a sharp base-hit to center by Matt Vierling to put the Beach Dogs in front 6-5. The product of Notre Dame picked up just his eighth RBI of July with the base-knock.

Ross returned to the mound for the ninth and worked around two hits to complete a scoreless inning and locked down the win for Clearwater.

The Beach Dogs improved to 5-3 against the Tampa Bay Rays' affiliate and have won four in a row against the club.

The Beach Dogs go for the series victory against the Stone Crabs on Saturday night at Spectrum Field. RHP James McArthur (0-0 10.12) toes the rubber for Clearwater against Charlotte LHP Shane McClanahan (5-1 0.94). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. on Threshers Live! The Pregame Show at threshersbaseball.com.

Saturday night is the inaugural Pride Night presented BayCare and tbt* at Spectrum Field. Enjoy special graphics, colors and festivities that celebrate our community's diversity. A special fireworks display will follow the event.

Check out the Clearwater Threshers Statistics

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Florida State League Stories from July 26, 2019


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