FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Martin Thumps Hammerheads in 4-3 Win

Published on June 4, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER, Fla. - Kyle Martin crushed two deep doubles and drove in three runs to lead Clearwater on Saturday night, as the Threshers rallied past the Jupiter Hammerheads for a 4-3 win on Veterans and Military Appreciation Night.

Martin delivered a 3-for-3 performance, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning that put the Threshers ahead, 4-2.

Clearwater (32-22) now sits 2.5 games back of the Tampa Yankees in the FSL North, with 15 games left to play in the first half.

Tyler Viza (6-2) turned in another strong outing in the start, holding Jupiter (27-29) to just two runs - one earned - on four hits across six innings. He walked one and recorded six strikeouts in the victory.

For the second-straight day, Dexter Kjerstad gave the Hammerheads the game's first run, lining an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left in the fourth inning for his sixth home run.

After a walk and a one-out error put runners on the corners, Taylor Ard hit a hard grounder up the middle, but Scott Kingery ranged behind the bag to field and flip to Malquin Canelo to get a force out at second. A run scored on the play to make it 2-0 Jupiter.

Jorgan Cavanerio (4-5) held the Threshers off the board through the front four innings, before Mitch Walding's infield hit on a chopper up the third base line led off the bottom of the fifth.

With one down, Martin mashed a 1-0 offering to the warning track in center, bringing home Walding with the double to get the Threshers on the board.

Down 2-1, Cord Sandberg dropped down a bunt single to put the tying run aboard to start the sixth inning. Andrew Pullin's one-out single set up men at the corners, and Walding whacked a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game at two.

Zach Green lifted a pop-up back of first that should have ended the inning, but the first baseman Ard dropped it on the edge of the outfield grass for a two-base error that gave the Threshers new life.

Martin made the Hammerheads pay for the miscue.

With a 2-1 count, Martin ripped a double to the track in right-center to plate both Pullin and Green, boosting the Threshers to a 4-2 lead.

Jupiter would not go down quietly. The Hammerheads strung together three-straight hits with one out against Alexis Rivero in the eighth, cutting the deficit to one and setting the tying run at third with only one down.

Rivero worked his way around it, inducing a liner to third off the bat of John Norwood for the second out, before Ard grounded to Walding at third for a fielder's choice that ended the threat.

The Hammerheads again put the tying run aboard in the ninth as Arturo Rodriguez reached on an infield hit to lead off, but Ulises Joaquin racked up a strikeout and a pair of fly outs to lock down his third save in as many tries.

Clearwater will look to take the series on Sunday, as the Threshers battle the Hammerheads at 1 p.m. Thomas Eshelman (3-2) toes the rubber against Jeff Brigham (1-4), and the game will be broadcast live on the Threshers Broadcast Network beginning at 12:45 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from June 4, 2016


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