FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Phillips Lights the Fireworks as Threshers Walk Off

Published on April 5, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER, FL -- The Clearwater Threshers lit the fireworks early on Friday night, as Anthony Phillips delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the tenth inning in the Threshers' home opener.

After a walk and an error set up runners at the corners with nobody out, Phillips came through with a line-drive single to center to push home pinch-runner Casey Serna and cue the post-game fireworks at Bright House Field.

It was a classic pitchers' duel throughout, as the two teams tallied just five hits on the evening.

Ethan Stewart delivered a terrific start in his season debut, although the lefty would not factor in the decision. Stewart cruised through seven innings, permitting only an unearned run on two hits and three walks, striking out one. Dunedin (1-1) did not manage a hit off Stewart until the fifth inning, when Mike Reeves hit a high chopper over Stewart's head for an infield single.

The Threshers (1-1) tied the game up at one in the bottom of the third with a run off Blue Jays starter Taylor Cole.

With one down, Brian Pointer lifted a deep fly ball to right-centerfield that dropped in for a triple on the warning track. Phillips drew a walk, and Justin Parr followed with a ground ball that was booted by first baseman KC Hobson. Parr picked up the RBI as Pointer scored on the play.

An out later, Pete Lavin reached on catcher's interference to give the Threshers a chance to go ahead, with the bases loaded and two out. Cole though managed a strikeout of Harold Martinez to end the inning.

Chris Burgess followed Stewart out of the pen and tossed a perfect frame in his Clearwater debut, inducing three ground ball outs in the eighth.

Colton Murray (1-0) earned the victory after shutting down Dunedin through two innings, racking up three strikeouts. The righty allowed just one baserunner, walking Matt Newman with two outs in the ninth. Murray followed that up by getting Christian Lopes to go down swinging on a slider to end the inning.

After Murray hurled a perfect top half of the tenth, the Threshers took advantage of Dunedin's third error of the game to earn the walk-off win.

Logan Moore drew a free pass on four pitches against reliever Danny Barnes (0-1), and after Serna entered to pinch-run, Pointer dropped down a bunt that was thrown wide of first by the catcher Reeves, allowing Serna to take third and Pointer to reach first safely.

That set the stage for Phillips, who roped a 1-1 offering to center to bring home Serna with the Threshers' first victory of the season.

Phillips finished 1-for-3 with a walk in his Clearwater debut, impressing on both sides of the ball by performing a pair of highlight-reel plays at second base.

Clearwater will travel to Dunedin for game three of the series on Saturday, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on threshersbaseball.com beginning at 6:15 p.m.

The Threshers will return home to wrap up the series on Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest, featuring Sunday Brunch and Bark at the Ballpark at Bright House Field.

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