FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Pinto Shines in Debut, Threshers Win 4-3

Published on June 22, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER, Fla. - Ricardo Pinto impressed in his Clearwater Threshers debut on Monday, striking out seven in a 4-3 victory over the first-place Daytona Tortugas at Bright House Field.

The Threshers (35-33) have won their last three games, and would clinch the first-half title in the FSL North with a sweep of Daytona. The Tortugas (37-31) have lost five straight.

Carlos Tocci and Willians Astudillo each turned in three-hit performances as the Threshers pounded out 11 hits. Tocci reached in four of his five trips to the plate, and made a diving grab in left-center to help kill a Tortugas rally in the eighth inning.

Pinto (1-0) delivered 6.1 innings in his first appearance at the High-A level, holding Daytona to two runs on six hits. The Phillies No. 14 prospect recorded seven strikeouts and did not issue a walk in earning the victory.

Clearwater jumped in front with an unearned run off Jackson Stephens (5-4) in the second inning.

Andrew Knapp led off with a double down the right-field line, and Astudillo set down a well-placed bunt up the left side. Third baseman Taylor Sparks fired wide of first base, allowing Knapp to cross the plate with the game's opening tally.

Tocci got another rally going in the third by stroking a double to right-center. Andrew Pullin knocked him around by pulling a single through the right side to put Clearwater up 2-0. Knapp walked and Astudillo singled with two outs, but Pullin was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Phillip Ervin to end the inning.

Pinto had permitted just one hit through his first four frames, before Robert Ramirez pulled a 2-0 pitch out to right for Daytona's first run of the game. The Threshers righty settled in after that to strike out the side.

A pair of Tortuga doubles cut the Threshers lead to 4-2 in the seventh. Edubray Ramos entered in relief and issued a two-out walk, but struck out Joe Hudson looking to end the inning.

Ulises Joaquin allowed a homer to Sebastian Elizalde in the ninth, but held on to earn his sixth save.

Clearwater will look to earn its fourth-straight win on Dollar Tuesday presented by Regions Bank, as the Threshers host Daytona for game two at 7 p.m. Matt Imhof (2-2) takes the hill against the Tortugas' Amir Garrett (2-5).

The call can be heard live on threshersbaseball.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from June 22, 2015


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