Randolph Goes Deep in Threshers 7-4 Loss
Published on April 7, 2017 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Cornelius Randolph launched a no-doubter into the night to boost the Threshers ahead in the seventh inning, but Clearwater saw a late lead slip away as the Threshers fell to the Dunedin Blue Jays on Friday night, 7-4 at Spectrum Field.
Randolph went deep for his first hit in a Threshers uniform, a two-out, two-run shot to right that broke a two-all tie. The former first-round draft pick finished 1-for-4 with a walk, homer, and two runs batted in.
The Blue Jays (1-1) earned their first win by rallying for five runs off Luke Leftwich (0-1) in the eighth inning. Lane Thomas tied it with an RBI double, while Matt Dean's single to left put Dunedin in front.
The late offensive surge overshadowed strong starting pitching performances from both sides in the early goings.
Jose Taveras racked up nine strikeouts in his debut for the Threshers (1-1), after leading the South Atlantic League with 154 punchouts last season. Taveras surrendered an unearned run in the third, when Max Pentecost reached on a dropped popup to extend the inning, and Juan Kelly singled up the middle to plate a run.
Dunedin grabbed a second run in the fifth, when Andrew Guillotte scampered home on a wild pitch.
Taveras would exit after 4.1 innings, having made 86 pitches, 56 strikes. He permitted two runs - one earned - on five hits while striking out nine.
Jordan Romano struck out nine in the start for the Blue Jays, and held the Threshers off the board until Drew Stankiewicz and Emmanuel Marrero opened the fifth with back-to-back singles.
Romano induced a strikeout of Zach Coppola before Randolph's grounder to first allowed both runners to advance. Damek Tomscha drew a walk to load the bases, and Jose Pujols came through with a chopper up the middle on a payoff pitch to score two and tie the ballgame.
Austin Davis tossed 2.2 perfect innings in relief, striking out two.
Randolph's two-run jack came on a 3-1 offering from reliever Josh DeGraaf, bumping the Threshers in front 4-2 in the seventh. Dunedin responded with a five-spot in the eighth inning.
The series shifts to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday, when the Threshers battle the Blue Jays at 6:30 p.m. Phillies No. 7 prospect Franklyn Kilome makes his Clearwater debut, opposed by Toronto's No. 8 prospect TJ Zeuch. The game will be broadcast live on threshersbaseball.com beginning at 6:15 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from April 7, 2017
- Randolph Goes Deep in Threshers 7-4 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- Tortugas Fall Short in First Loss - Daytona Tortugas
- Tampa Offense Struggles in Loss to Lakeland, - Tampa Yankees
- T-Yanks Drop Opener to Flying Tigers, 2-1 - Tampa Yankees
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
