FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Clearwater Tops Tampa 9-7

Published on April 25, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


TAMPA (Wednesday, April 24) -The Clearwater Threshers outslugged the Tampa Yankees en route to a 9-7 victory Wednesday night in front of 1,045 fans at Tampa's George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The Threshers (9-11) benefited from a near-cycle performance from center fielder Aaron Altherr and a first-inning, three-run homer from catcher and rehabbing Major Leaguer Carlos Ruiz to top the Yankees (10-10). The win snapped a three-game skid for the Threshers, who were coming off a sweep by the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

The two teams traded blows in the early innings. Clearwater leapt out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Ruiz's blast to left field, while Tampa answered with a solo homer from Gary Sanchez to make it 3-1. Altherr singled home left fielder Brock Stassi in the top of the second to run the lead to 4-1. Tampa surged ahead 5-4 in the bottom of the frame on the strength of a solo homer from Fu-Lin Kuo, a bases-loaded groundout and a two-run, two-out single.

Clearwater retook the advantage in the top of the third, as right fielder Cameron Perkins tripled home first baseman Chris Serritella before coming in on a sacrifice fly hit by second baseman Carlos Alonso. Tampa wouldn't stand for that, though. Francisco Arcia took Threshers starter Nick Hernandez deep for another solo dinger in the bottom of the third. Anderson Feliz hit a ball to center that Altherr misplayed, and the speedy third baseman reached third on the play before coming in on a ground out to make it 7-6 in favor of Tampa.

The Threshers accomplished the remaining scoring a bit at a time. Clearwater evened things up in the top of the fifth, as Alonso smashed a two-out triple to right and sped home on a wild pitch from Tampa starter Scottie Allen to tie the game at seven runs apiece. In the top of the eighth, designated hitter Harold Martinez led off with a double off reliever Joel De La Cruz (0-1) and moved to third on a single up the middle by Stassi. Shortstop Jose Mojica lofted a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Martinez to score and the Threshers to seize an 8-7 lead.

Clearwater would tack on an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Third baseman Maikel Franco led off the inning with a sharp single through the left side against Manny Barreda, and came home on Alonso's two-out double to make it 9-7. The Threshers set down the Yankees in order in the ninth to seal the victory.

Hernandez took a no-decision, with seven runs allowed (four earned) over his three innings on the mound. He gave up four hits and a walk, striking out three and hitting one batter. Colby Shreve tossed three scoreless frames, with two hits and two walks balanced by three punchouts. Colton Murray (1-0) earned the win on two shutout relief innings; he gave up two hits and a walk while striking out four. Ryan O'Sullivan earned the save with a perfect ninth inning, punctuated by a strikeout.

Allen gave up seven runs on eleven hits and a walk over five innings, fanning three. Reliever John Brebbia gave up a hit and a walk in one inning against one strikeout. De La Cruz took the loss with one run allowed on two hits over a pair of innings, whiffing two. Barreda surrendered a run on two hits while striking out one in his lone inning of action.

Altherr went four for five with two singles, a double, a triple, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base, making for a very crowded box score line. He fanned in his final at bat as he attempted to go for a home run to complete the cycle. Ruiz walked twice in addition to his round-tripper, and Alonso contributed a run and two RBI on a double and a triple.

The Threshers will look to add another win Friday when the series shifts to Bright House Field. Southpaw Hoby Milner will start for the Threshers against Yankee righty Bryan Mitchell. It's 70's night at Bright House Field! Come dressed to impress in your favorite 70's get-up, and enjoy a top-notch concert after the game by Disco Inferno. It's also a Tampa Bay Times Family Pack night! Fans can get four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four sodas, all for just $28 with a coupon from the Tampa Bay Times! Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with first pitch scheduled for 6:30. Ben Gellman's pregame show will begin at 6:15 p.m. on ThreshersBaseball.com.

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Florida State League Stories from April 25, 2013


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