Garcia Brilliant in One-Hit Shutout
July 13, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
Just three days after the Clearwater Threshers tossed their first no-hitter in a decade, Elniery Garcia came just six outs away from another, leading the Threshers to a 4-0 whitewashing of the Palm Beach Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium.
Garcia (8-2) turned in a brilliant outing, as he and Victor Arano combined on the one-hit shutout in the series opening victory.
The Threshers lefty retired the first ten men he faced to start the ballgame before a one-out walk in the fourth, after which Garcia promptly picked off Vaughn Bryan. He faced the minimum through six, and carried a no-hit bid all the way into the eighth inning.
On the first pitch of the frame, Cole Lankford knocked a soft single into right for the first - and only - hit of the night for Palm Beach.
Garcia worked efficiently in keeping the Cardinals (7-13) off balance. He threw 94 pitches across eight scoreless innings, permitting just the lone single and two walks while racking up six strikeouts. Garcia's ERA now stands at 2.23 - the third-best in the Florida State League.
Clearwater (12-8) dueled Palm Beach to a scoreless tie into the eighth inning.
Malquin Canelo lined a single to center to lead off the frame, and Derek Campbell sacrificed Canelo into scoring position.
With two down, a two-error play on Cord Sandberg's grounder to second baseman Darren Seferina brought home Canelo with the game's first run. After Scott Kingery's infield hit, Kyle Martin tacked on with a base hit to right to score Sandberg and put the Threshers up 2-0.
Garcia held the Cardinals in check after Palm Beach broke up the no-hitter in the bottom half, and placed a pair on with nobody out. Back-to-back strikeouts of Chris Rivera and Andrew Sohn quieted things down, before an Oscar Mercado grounder to short ended the inning.
The Threshers doubled up their lead in the ninth.
Mitch Walding singled and advanced to third on a pair of ground balls, and Campbell was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners. Carlos Tocci then struck a double to left to bring both home and make it 4-0 Clearwater.
Arano took over in the ninth and made quick work of the Cardinals, hurling a perfect frame to nailed down the shutout.
The teams square off for game two of the series on Thursday, as the Threshers call upon Luke Leftwich (1-2) to toe the rubber against Ian McKinney (6-5), with first pitch at 12 p.m. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Florida State League Stories from July 13, 2016
- Yankees Tally 15 Hits, Pound Miracle, 8-3 - Tampa Yankees
- Garcia Brilliant in One-Hit Shutout - Clearwater Threshers
- Back-And-Fourth Battle Goes to Bradenton - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Tampa Deals Miracle An 8-3 Loss to Start Series - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Daytona Offense Takes a Knapp in 6-1 Loss - Daytona Tortugas
- Knapp Dominates, Mets Take Opener from Tortugas - St. Lucie Mets
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