Early Deficit Too Much for Threshers against Stone Crabs
May 17, 2019 - Florida State League (FSL) - Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers fell behind early in Friday night's contest against the Charlotte Stone Crabs, and could not climb out of an eight-run deficit in a 12-4 loss at Spectrum Field. The loss drops the Threshers' record to 2-8 against teams from the South division.
Julian Garcia (2-3) worked a perfect first, but ran into trouble in the second and third innings. The right-hander retired Carl Chester to start out the second frame, but an error by Jake Scheiner at third allowed Thomas Millone to become the first baserunner of the night.
Garcia allowed a single to Moises Gomez to put runners on the corners, and then had Tanner Dodson reach on error, allowing a run to score. The 24-year-old surrendered his first three-run home run of the night on a shot to left by Jim Haley to put Clearwater (19-21) in a 4-0 hole.
The starter lasted five innings in the losing effort, with nine runs allowed - five earned - on eight hits, a walk and four strikeouts.
Charlotte (21-20) put up another four-run frame in the third against Garcia, capping off the inning with a three-run long ball off the bat of Millone for the first eight-run deficit of the night.
The Threshers responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame, starting with a lead-off double to right from Rodolfo Duran. Two batters later, Simon Muzziotti lined a single to center to plate the runner and get the home team on the board.
Alec Bohm poked a double into the gap in right-center to push across Muzziotti for the designated hitter's first RBI of the night.
The Philadelphia Phillies' top-ranked prospect (MLB.com) smacked a two-run double off the wall in right in the fifth for his second and third RBIs of the contest. The 22-year-old has plated at least one batter in eight of his last 10 games, which includes five multi-RBI performances.
Charlotte tallied solo runs in the sixth and seventh innings before adding two more in the ninth to bring the score to its final of 12-4.
Tommy Romero (2-1) picked up the win for the visitors, despite allowing four run in five frames on six hits and four punch outs.
Clearwater looks to bounce back in game two of the three-game series at Spectrum Field on Saturday night. LHP Ethan Evanko (0-0, 4.26) toes the rubber for the Threshers against the Stone Crabs' RHP Paul Campbell (4-3, 5.03). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:15 p.m. on threshersbaseball.com.
Saturday is the Clearwater Threshers inaugural Strike Out Cancer Night presented by Academy Bus. Threshers players and field staff will wear special lavender on-field jerseys which will be available in an in-park only silent auction. The Morton Plant Mease Foundation will be the beneficiary of the silent auction and Launch-A-Ball contest.
The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Lavender Ribbon T-Shirt. Gates open at 5 p.m.
Fans can also stay after the game for another amazing fireworks display!
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Florida State League Stories from May 17, 2019
- Jupiter Crashes Coquis Comeback, 8-6 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Daytona Takes Seesaw Opener as Tampa Drops Fifth-Straight - Tampa Tarpons
- Early Deficit Too Much for Threshers against Stone Crabs - Clearwater Threshers
- Late Outburst Pushes Tortugas to Win, 8-6 - Daytona Tortugas
- Dunedin's Offense Held in Check in 3-1 Loss to Lakeland - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Mets Clip Miracle 2-1 in 10 Innings - St. Lucie Mets
- Stone Crabs Power Past Clearwater 12-4 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Watson Wows, But Miracle Falter In Extra Innings - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Dunedin Opens a Four Game Series with Lakeland - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Stone Crabs Game Notes - Fri, May 17 at Clearwater - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Threshers Rally for Walk-Off on Thursday - Clearwater Threshers
- Diaz Launches Three Home Runs In 13-7 Win - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
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