Paulino Strong in Spot Start, Threshers Drop Series
Published on June 11, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Felix Paulino hurled four scoreless innings in his first start of the season, but the Clearwater Threshers dropped the series to the Stone Crabs after a 5-3 loss on Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park.
The Threshers (27-34) were held hitless through the first four innings by Brock Burke (2-5), before Jose Pujols singled up the first base line with one out in the fifth. That knock extended Pujols' hitting streak to a season-high 14 games.
With two outs, Raul Rivas pulled a single through the left side, and Jose Gomez came through with a base hit up the middle to score Pujols and put Clearwater up, 1-0.
Paulino dealt a season-high four innings in the spot start, scattering four hits while holding the league's top offense off the board. The right-hander did not issue a walk, and recorded four strikeouts in the no-decision.
Charlotte (28-31) overtook the Threshers by rallying for five runs against reliever Blake Quinn (2-3) in the bottom of the fifth.
Zac Law opened the inning with a single and stole second, before Miles Mastrobuoni pulled a hit through the right side to score Law and tie the game at one. Lucius Fox walked, and Tristan Gray knocked a grounder that was ruled fair down the first base line, scoring two to put Charlotte ahead.
Robbie Tenerowicz followed with a single, and Jake Fraley grounded one up the middle to put runners at the corners. Ismael Cabrera entered in relief, and Charlotte pulled off a double steal, with Fraley swiping second and Tenerowicz crossing the plate to make it 5-1.
Clearwater inched closer in the sixth, after Arquimedes Gamboa opened with a double to left, and Adam Haseley reached on an infield single to set them up at first and third. Austin Listi pushed a hard grounder to second that resulted in a double play, bringing home Gamboa to make it 5-2.
An inning later the Threshers pulled to within two, after Gomez worked a two-out walk. Charlotte called upon reliever Zack Mozingo, and Luke Williams greeted him by stinging a double down he third base line to score Gomez and cut the deficit to two.
Clearwater brought the tying run to the plate in each of the last three innings, but the Threshers were held scoreless the rest of the way. Ivan Palaez worked around a leadoff single from Henri Lartigue in the ninth, earning his first save for Charlotte.
The Threshers will head home for a four-game series leading up to the All-Star break, as they will host the Tampa Tarpons on Monday at 7 p.m. Connor Seabold has the start for Clearwater against Nick Nelson, and the game will be broadcast live on threshersbaseball.com starting at 6:45 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from June 11, 2018
- Tarpons Held to 3 Hits in 4-1 Loss at Clearwater - Tampa Tarpons
- Seabold Spins Complete Game in 4-1 Victory - Clearwater Threshers
- Mets Beat Tortugas Twice on Monday - St. Lucie Mets
- Cardinals Use Late Rally To Take Opener, 5-4 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Start Your Week off with the Stone Crabs - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Braxton Davidson Named Player of the Week - Florida Fire Frogs
- Prevost Named FSL Pitcher of the Week - St. Lucie Mets
- Paulino Strong in Spot Start, Threshers Drop Series - Clearwater Threshers
- Celebrate with Us on July 3rd - Charlotte Stone Crabs
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