Threshers Back in 1st After 6-1 Win
Published on June 6, 2017 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Alberto Tirado delivered one of his best outings of the season on Tuesday, leading the Clearwater Threshers back to first place in the FSL North with a 6-1 win over the Charlotte Stone Crabs at Spectrum Field.
Clearwater (33-26) now sits a half game up on the Daytona Tortugas with 11 games remaining in the first half.
Tirado (4-3) turned in a season-high seven innings of one-run ball to earn the victory. He walked just one, a season-low, and struck out six on 87 pitches, 55 strikes.
The lone run against him came courtesy of a big leaguer, as rehabbing Rays outfielder Peter Bourjos homered on a line drive to left in the third inning to put Charlotte up 1-0.
After rehabber Jumbo Diaz worked a scoreless first inning, knuckleballer Taylor Hawkins held the Threshers scoreless until the fourth.
With two outs, Cornelius Randolph got the rally going by working a base on balls. Hawkins (1-4) got ahead of Deivi Grullon with two strikes, before Grullon lifted one just over the wall in left for his fifth home run of the season, putting the Threshers ahead 2-1.
Clearwater was not done there, as Grenny Cumana followed with a single to center and proceeded to steal second. Cord Sandberg came through with a single up the middle to plate Cumana, before Emmanuel Marrero ripped a triple off the wall in right to extend the lead to 4-1.
Two innings later, Grullon greeted Hawkins again with a single to left, and Cumana knocked his third hit of the ballgame to set up two men on with nobody out. Michael Velasquez entered in relief, and Sandberg laid down a bunt to advance both runners to scoring position.
After Velasquez notched a strikeout of Marrero for the second out, Mark Laird grounded one up the middle and off the second baseman Peter Maris for a single, scoring Grullon and Cumana to put the Threshers up by five.
Blake Quinn tossed a scoreless eighth inning, and Ranfi Casimiro worked a perfect ninth to finishing off the victory.
Following an off day on Wednesday, the Threshers will head to the east coast for a four-game series against the Jupiter Hammerheads beginning on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Jacob Waguespack (2-2) will take the hill opposed by Trevor Richards (5-4).
Florida State League Stories from June 6, 2017
- Hammerheads Score Late as Yankees Drop Finale - Tampa Yankees
- Threshers Back in 1st After 6-1 Win - Clearwater Threshers
- Tonight's Game Has Been Rained Out - Daytona Tortugas
- Tortugas Rained out Tuesday - Daytona Tortugas
- Long Named FSL Player of the Month - Daytona Tortugas
- Long Named FSL May Player of the Month - Daytona Tortugas
- Pentecost Happy and Healthy Behind the Plate - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Threshers Drop Pair to Charlotte - Clearwater Threshers
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