Duran's Career Night Lifts Threshers over Tortugas
June 7, 2019 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Rodolfo Duran broke out the power stroke on Friday night, driving home five runs to help the Clearwater Threshers take down the Daytona Tortugas, 5-1, at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The win keeps the Threshers 4.5 games behind the Dunedin Blue Jays for first place in the Florida State League North with six games remaining in the first half.
With Clearwater (33-28) trailing 2-1 in the fourth, Duran delivered his first blow of the game with a two-run shot out to left for his first home run of the season to cap off the three-run frame. The 20-year-old delivered an RBI single in the sixth to stretch the lead to 4-2, and drove home a pair with a double in the three-run eighth to top off the five-RBI performance.
Damon Jones (4-3) earned his third consecutive win with just two runs allowed on seven hits, two walks and eight strikeouts across 5.2 frames. The southpaw has allowed more than two runs in an outing just one time this season out of 11 starts, and extended his league-leading strikeout total to 88 in just 58.1 innings.
The Washington State product allowed a run to cross in the bottom of the opening frame when Daytona (32-29) pieced together a two-out rally. Jonathan India singled to keep the inning alive for Alejo Lopez, who smacked a double down the line in left to put the Threshers behind by a run.
The 6-foot-5 hurler allowed another run in the third on a wild pitch, but kept the home team off the board for his remaining 2.2 innings.
Jhailyn Ortiz opened the series on a high note, going 2-for-4 at the dish with three runs scored. The 20-year-old plated the first run of the night for the visitors, scoring Alec Bohm from first with an RBI double in the fourth.
Bohm added a run-scoring groundout in the ninth to finish off the scoring of the night for the Threshers.
Luis Ramirez and Tyler Carr took over for the final 3.1 innings out of the bullpen, and combined for five strikeouts to push Clearwater's staff total to a league-leading 612.
Clearwater goes for the series victory in game two of the three-game set against Daytona at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. It is yet to be determined who will start for the Threshers against the Tortugas' LHP Reiver Sanmartin (2-4, 4.10). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:50 on Threshers Live! The Pregame Show at threshersbaseball.com.
Florida State League Stories from June 7, 2019
- Duran's Career Night Lifts Threshers over Tortugas - Clearwater Threshers
- Duran Downs Tortugas, 8-3, on Star Wars Night - Daytona Tortugas
- Dunedin Guts out a Gritty Win in Bradenton - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Tampa Pitchers Tally 15 Ks in Two-Hit Shutout, 1-0 - Tampa Tarpons
- Dominant Tarpons Pitching Leads to Fire Frogs Demise, 1-0 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Diaz homers again, Cabbage drives in two in series opening win - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Rosa Hits Winning Homer to Lead Lakeland Past St. Lucie - St. Lucie Mets
- Dunedin Opens a Pivotal Series against Bradenton - Dunedin Blue Jays
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