Cubs Drub Threshers 14-8 Tuesday
Published on June 19, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER (Tuesday, June 18) - The Clearwater Threshers had their first-half playoff hopes end in a rout Tuesday, falling 14-8 at the hands of the Daytona Cubs in front of 3,490 fans at Bright House Field.
Clearwater (35-31) never recovered from two grand slams hit by the Cubs (33-31), who also saw their playoff aspirations vanish with a win by the Dunedin Blue Jays. The Threshers gave up four extra-base hits as they couldn't overcome the offensive onslaught from the visitors.
Daytona opened the scoring against Threshers starter Hoby Milner (6-3) in the top of the first. John Andreoli served a broken-bat single into center field, and Zeke DeVoss banged a triple to left to score him. With one out, Dustin Geiger lifted a fastball to right for a sacrifice fly, plating DeVoss and giving Daytona the 2-0 lead.
Clearwater equalized in the bottom of the inning against Cubs lefty Kyler Burke. With two outs, right fielder Kelly Dugan battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk. Third baseman Maikel Franco then hammered a 1-1 fastball over the left field fence for a two-run homer. The round-tripper was Franco's 16th of the season, and it tied the ballgame at 2-2.
The Threshers moved ahead in the bottom of the second. Shortstop Jonathan Roof drew a one-out walk from Burke, and moved to second on a single by catcher Logan Moore. Center fielder Kyrell Hudson laced a single to center, plating Roof to put Clearwater ahead 3-2.
Daytona knotted it back up in the top of the third. Andreoli knocked a one-out single to center, and moved to second on a groundout by DeVoss. After Javier Baez drew a walk from Milner, Dustin Geiger chopped one up the middle for an RBI single, with Andreoli scoring on the play. The Cubs left the inning with the score tied at 3-3.
Clearwater answered immediately in the bottom of the third. After Dugan was plunked to lead off the inning, Franco sliced a single through the left side. First baseman Chris Serritella drew a walk, loading the bases for second baseman Carlos Alonso. The FSL All-Star grounded into a force-out at second, but Dugan scored to put Clearwater back into a 4-3 lead.
Daytona leapt back into the lead in the top of the fourth. Chadd Krist led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Tim Saunders. Taylor Davis grounded out to third, scoring Krist and advancing Saunders to third in the process. After Taiwan Easterling grounded back to the mound, Andreoli lashed a single to center, scoring Saunders and reclaiming a 5-4 lead for the Cubs.
The visiting Cubs broke the game wide open in the top of the fifth. Milner walked Geiger with one out, and Ben Carhart smacked a double to put runners on second and third. Milner hit Krist with a pitch to load the bases with one out, and was pulled for reliever Colby Shreve. Saunders then smoked a 3-1 fastball out of the park to center field for a grand slam, running the score to 9-4.
Daytona added a second grand slam in the top of the seventh inning against Threshers reliever Jordan Guth. The Cubs loaded the bases with two away for Javier Baez, who slugged a homer to center to bring them all home and make it a 13-4 lead for Daytona.
Clearwater made up a run in the bottom of the seventh, as designated hitter Pete Lavin socked a leadoff triple to right off reliever Frank Del Valle, and came home on a sacrifice fly from Franco. However, Daytona answered, coaxing Ryan O'Sullivan into a bases-loaded walk in the top of the eighth to make it 14-5.
Clearwater tacked on two in the bottom of the eighth against Del Valle, as Alonso led off with a single. Roof grounded one to Baez that the shortstop booted, and Del Valle fired the ball into the dugout before time was called for a two-base error. Alonso scored, and Roof moved to third on the miscue. After Moore drew a walk, left fielder Brock Stassi grounded into a force out to score Roof, making it 14-7. Clearwater added one more in the ninth, as Altherr came in to score on a ground-out, but Daytona was able to end it without further damage at 14-8.
Milner took the loss, as he was lit up for eight runs on eight hits and two walks in 4.1 innings, dealing one wild pitch. Shreve surrendered a run on three hits and a walk; he gave up the granny and let all three inherited runners score. Guth gave up four runs on four hits and a walk, fanning one in two innings and allowing a grand slam. O'Sullivan coughed up a run on two hits and two walks in 1.1 frames, whiffing two. Colton Murray threw a perfect ninth, striking out one.
Burke took a no-decision, surrendering five runs on five hits and three walks in four innings; he struck out one. Yao-Lin Wang (2-1) got the win with two shutout frames, walking one and whiffing two. Del Valle gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in his two frames. Sheldon McDonald gave up a run on a hit, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the ninth.
The teams will play the rubber match Wednesday at Bright House Field, with southpaw Nick Hernandez starting for Clearwater against Daytona righty P.J. Francescon. It's Camp Day at Bright House Field, with a special noon start! It's Happy Hour night at Bright House Field, presented by Belcher Bingo and Humana! Fans can come join us at the "Almost World Famous" Frenchy's Tiki Pavilion starting at 5:00 pm and enjoy our drink specials. Ladies drink free from 5:30 pm-6:30 pm. Also, during our Wednesday home games, Silver Shark Club Members receive free admission. Gates open at 11 a.m. for the noon game, with Ben Gellman and Kirsten Karbach starting the pregame show on at 11:45 a.m. on ThreshersBaseball.com.
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