Martinez Drives in Three in Win
May 5, 2014 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
The Clearwater Threshers snapped a seven-game losing streak on Monday, pounding out 11 hits in a 5-3 win over the Brevard County Manatees.
Harold Martinez drove in three of Clearwater's five runs, while Colton Murray worked around a pair of base runners in the ninth inning to lock down his first save of the season.
Clearwater (6-22) brought home the game's first runs with a pair off Manatees starter Hobbs Johnson (2-4) in the first.
With one down, KC Serna singled and Pete Lavin was hit by a pitch. Martinez then stepped up and drove an opposite-field double to right to knock home both Serna and Lavin and make it 2-0 Threshers.
The Manatees (16-14) answered with a run in the home half, and pulled even on an unearned run in the third inning against Clearwater starter Ethan Stewart (2-2). With runners at the corners, an error on Martinez at third permitted the tying run to cross with two outs in the third.
It was Martinez who gave Clearwater the lead for good in the fifth inning.
After Lavin doubled, Martinez lined a single to left to push the Threshers ahead 3-2. Martinez then stole second, and Gabriel Lino welcomed reliever Martin Viramontes by stinging a single to left field to extend the lead to two.
Stewart turned in five innings in the start, rebounding from a tough outing last Tuesday against the Manatees to hold Brevard County to three runs - two earned - on five hits. Stewart tied a season-high with six walks, while striking out three in the win.
Nick Ferdinand and Anthony Phillips teamed up to give the Threshers some insurance in the sixth. Ferdinand led off by ripping a triple to right, his first of the season. Phillips followed with a single to left to plate Ferdinand with the game's final run.
Jordan Guth matched a season-high with three innings of relief. The right-hander only allowed one baserunner - a two-out single by Orlando Arcia in the sixth - before retiring the final seven men he would face.
The Manatees threatened against Murray, but he would settle in to toss a scoreless ninth. A lead-off walk brought the tying run to the plate, and a Tyrone Taylor single and two-out double-steal put the Threshers in a tight spot in the final frame, but Murray got Cameron Garfield to fly out to right to end the ballgame.
Clearwater will look to take the series in Viera on Tuesday, when the Threshers and Manatees square off for the series finale at 10:35 a.m.
Florida State League Stories from May 5, 2014
- Mets Breeze Past Stone Crabs 5-2 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Manatees Squander Chances in 5-3 Loss to Clearwater - Brevard County Manatees
- Martinez Drives in Three in Win - Clearwater Threshers
- Williams Rebounds After Rocky First Inning - Jupiter Hammerheads
- Tomshaw Leads Miracle to 3-2 Victory - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Ynoa, Sewald, Wheeler Pitch Mets to 5-2 Win over Crabs - St. Lucie Mets
- Williams Quiets Palm Beach Bats - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Charles Giving Back, Shifting Approach - Clearwater Threshers
- Michael Reed Named FSL Player of the Week - Brevard County Manatees
- Mets Down Stone Crabs 5-0 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Friendly Kia Makes New Friends for Education Day - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Tigertown to Host Junior College State Baseball Championships May 9-14 - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Pitching Falters in 11-5 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
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