Garcia, Threshers Shut out Blue Jays, 7-0
April 10, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
DUNEDIN, Fla. - Elniery Garcia turned in a dominant High-A debut, limiting Dunedin to three hits as the Clearwater Threshers salvaged a series split with a decisive 7-0 victory at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Sunday.
Garcia (1-0) scattered three singles and two walks, and did not allow a runner past second base. He gave the Threshers 5.1 innings of shutout ball, struck out five, and threw 75 pitches - 46 for strikes.
The bullpen kept the door closed tightly behind him, as Jairo Munoz, Joey DeNato, and Victor Arano teamed up to toss 3.2 hitless innings of relief.
On the other end, Carlos Tocci finished off an 8-for-17 series (.471) after collecting three more hits on Sunday.
The Threshers (2-2) touched up Dunedin starter Justin Shafer (0-1) with two runs in the first, and three more in the second.
With two down and Malquin Canelo at first, Kyle Martin sat on a 3-1 offering and drove a two-run home run over the wall in left to put Clearwater up 2-0 in the opening frame. It was the second longball for Martin in as many days.
An inning later, Clearwater cushioned its lead with a two-out rally.
With Cord Sandberg at second after a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base, Herlis Rodriguez pulled a single to left to bring Sandberg around. After Scott Kingery walked, a wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, and Canelo bounced a single up the middle to plate both Rodriguez and Kingery to make it 5-0.
Zach Green added two more for good measure, ripping a two-out, two-run double down the third base line to extend the lead to 7-0 in the seventh.
Eight of the nine men in the Threshers order had at least one hit. Kingery went 0-for-3 but walked twice and scored twice, and has reached base in 8-of-16 plate appearances since moving to the leadoff spot.
Clearwater returns home to Bright House Field on Monday, as the Threshers welcome in the reigning Florida State League champion Charlotte Stone Crabs for a four-game set. Monday is Pizza Fest, as part of Feeding Frenzy Mondays.
Tyler Viza will make his Threshers debut against Chris Pike for the Stone Crabs, with first pitch at 7 p.m. The call can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network starting with Threshers Live at 6:45 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from April 10, 2016
- Tortugas Hold off Late Rally - Daytona Tortugas
- Manatees Fall Short of Daytona, 2-1 - Brevard County Manatees
- Jays Bats Broken by Thresher Pitching, Fall 7-0 - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Garcia, Threshers Shut out Blue Jays, 7-0 - Clearwater Threshers
- Marauders Rally Late to Topple Fort Myers - Bradenton Marauders
- Miracle Drop Extra Inning Heartbreaker in Bradenton - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Mets Hang on to Beat Hammerheads 4-3 - St. Lucie Mets
- St. Lucie Mets Begin Four-Game Home Stand on Monday - St. Lucie Mets
- Quest for 140-0 Ends with D-Jays' First Loss of Season - Dunedin Blue Jays
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