Crawford Debuts, Threshers Lose Walk-Off
Published on June 20, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
DUNEDIN -- Philadelphia Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford debuted in the Florida State League on Thursday, as the Clearwater Threshers were handed a 5-4 walk-off loss by the Dunedin Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.
Crawford, the No. 3 prospect in the Phillies system according to Baseball America, finished the evening 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, while being charged with two errors at shortstop. However, the 19-year old worked the count and saw at least five pitches in each plate appearance, facing southpaws in each of his at-bats.
The Threshers (0-1) pounded out 13 hits in the second-half opener, but Marcus Knecht came through in the bottom of the ninth to deliver the game-winner for Dunedin (1-0).
Dalton Pompey drew a one-out walk against reliever Dan Child (0-1), and after a groundout moved him to second with two down, Knecht delivered on a 2-2 pitch with a single up the middle to bring Pompey home with the winning tally.
Brian Pointer turned in a 4-for-4 performance for Clearwater out of the ninth spot in the order, while Harold Martinez finished 3-for-4.
After Threshers starter Miguel Nunez and Blue Jays counterpart Matt Boyd traded zeros through the front three innings, Clearwater plated the game's first run in the fourth.
With two down and Martinez aboard, Gabriel Lino singled, and Pointer pushed a base knock up the middle to bring around Martinez and make it 1-0 Threshers.
Clearwater added a pair in the sixth inning. After a walk and single ended the day for Boyd, Art Charles reached on an error to load the bases. Reliever Efrain Nieves induced a double play ball from Lino, but that allowed a run to score to make it 2-0. Pointer then rolled an infield hit down the third base line to score Martinez from third and extend the lead to three.
Nunez had held the Blue Jays scoreless on just three hits through the front six innings, but Dunedin struck for four runs in the seventh to go ahead, 4-3. All four runs - three of which were earned - were charged to Nunez.
The Threshers answered to pull the game back even the following frame.
With two outs, Pointer capped his four-hit night with a double to left. On a two-strike pitch, Roman Quinn came through with a hard grounder past the diving Emilio Guerrero at short to bring across Pointer with the tying run.
After Pompey reached scoring position with two out in the ninth, Child was one strike away from sending it to extras before Knecht's grounder up the middle scored the speedster from second to give Dunedin the 5-4 win.
The two-game set wraps up on Friday at Bright House Field, with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. and coverage kicking off at 6:15 p.m. on threshersbaseball.com. Friday will also feature another installment of the Threshers' Summer Concert Series, featuring Hunks of Funk and Black Honkeys.
Florida State League Stories from June 20, 2014
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- Deja Vu at the Dean - Jupiter Hammerheads
- Flying Tigers Return Home Sunday for Kids Day - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Miracle, Mets Postponed in St. Lucie - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Crawford Debuts, Threshers Lose Walk-Off - Clearwater Threshers
- Pina, New Additions Lead Mets to 7-4 Win over Miracle - St. Lucie Mets
- Mets and Stone Crabs Cancelled, Fort Myers Wins First Half - St. Lucie Mets
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