FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Three Homers Not Enough in 11-Inning Loss

Published on April 21, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER -- The Clearwater Threshers battled their way to a third-consecutive extra-inning contest on Monday, but suffered a 6-5 loss in the series opener against the Daytona Cubs at Bright House Field.

The Threshers belted a season-high three home runs, but would come up short in extras. Colton Murray (2-1) came one pitch away from stranding the bases loaded in the top of the 11th, but a wild pitch permitted Dan Vogelbach to score what would be the game-winning run. Each of the Threshers' last ten games have been decided by three runs or less.

Clearwater and Daytona had been knotted up at five since the fourth inning.

The Threshers (3-14) jumped on the board in the first inning against rehabbing Major League righty Jake Arrieta. After Pete Lavin reached base on an error by first baseman Rock Shoulders, Harold Martinez drove a 1-0 offering over the wall in right-center for his first home run of the year, putting Clearwater on top, 2-0.

Daytona (4-13) came right back with three of its own off starter Jon Prosinski in the second. That back-and-forth would continue through the next two innings.

In the bottom of the third, Brian Pointer drew a lead-off walk and stole second with one out. Lavin then belted a 2-0 pitch deep out to right for his second long ball of the season, giving Clearwater the 4-3 advantage.

In the fourth, Daytona strung together a single, walk, and double with one out, the last of which brought home the tying run on the second two-bagger of the night by Jeimer Candelario. With two down, Pin-Chieh Chen lined a single to left to plate the go-ahead run, but left fielder Justin Parr gunned down Candelario at the plate to end the inning.

Angelo Mora brought the game back even in the home half. With two down, Mora sent a shot out to right for his first home run in a Threshers uniform, pulling the teams even at 5-5.

Lino Martinez tossed four scoreless innings of two-hit ball in relief of Prosinski, helping ensure the game remained tied into extras.

Murray had worked two shutout frames entering the 11th, and struck out Bijan Rademacher on three pitches to open the inning before issuing a walk to Vogelbach. Chadd Krist followed with a double, and the Threshers would intentionally walk Shoulders to load the bases.

After falling behind in the count 2-0, Murray settled in to cut down Candelario on strikes for the second out, and got ahead of Marco Hernandez before a wild pitch permitted Vogelbach to cross with the game's final run.

Clearwater has dropped four straight, including three consecutive extra-innings contests, and will look to rebound on Tuesday in game two against Daytona. The Threshers will send Miguel Nunez (1-1) to the hill, opposed by Tayler Scott (1-2) for the Cubs. First pitch is at 7 p.m., and the game can be heard online beginning with Threshers Live! the pre game show at 6:45 p.m. on threshersbaseball.com.

It will also be Dollar Tuesday at Bright House Field, presented by Florida Central Credit Union. General admission tickets, hot dogs, 12 oz. draft beers, 16 oz. soft drinks, popcorn, peanuts, and ice cream sandwiches are all just one dollar each.

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Florida State League Stories from April 21, 2014


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