Threshers Double up Manatees, Gain Ground in Race
August 31, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
It took more than seven hours to complete Monday's suspended game plus a seven-inning contest on Tuesday, but a pair of wins was worth the wait for the Clearwater Threshers in taking both ends, 2-1 and 3-2 over the Brevard County Manatees at Space Coast Stadium.
Those victories, combined with Dunedin's suspended game against Tampa on Tuesday, allowed the Threshers (41-24) to move to just two games back of the Blue Jays in the Florida State League North.
Tommy Bergjans earned the win in a strong debut for the Threshers in game one, while Clearwater set a season-high with three triples in game two.
The opener began back on Monday, when Clearwater got off to a 1-0 lead just before the rain set in.
With two on and two out thanks to singles by Austin Bossart and Zach Coppola, Carlos Tocci came through by chopping a single through the left side to bring home Bossart, giving Clearwater a 1-0 lead in the second.
The skies opened up between innings and the game was halted, and ultimately suspended. It would resume at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday.
Bergjans (1-0) permitted a walk and a single in his first inning of work, but found a groove and retired ten straight leading into the sixth.
Clearwater doubled up its lead in the fourth inning, after Malquin Canelo singled, stole second, and moved to third on an errant throw from catcher Dustin Houle.
Tocci came through once again, this time lining a double to left to score Canelo and extend the advantage to 2-0.
Bergjans was in cruise control until the sixth, when Corey Ray led off the inning with a home run to right that cut the lead to 2-1. Bergjans regrouped and set the next three down in order on just eight pitches.
The righty would give the Threshers 6.2 innings in his debut, after he was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers system as part of the Carlos Ruiz trade on August 25. Bergjans (1-0) permitted just a run on three hits and a walk, striking out five. 61 of his 92 pitches were for strikes.
Tom Windle earned his first save for Clearwater, retiring all four men he faced and striking out two.
Game two got underway at 10:18 p.m., and the Threshers got on the board quickly against Bubba Derby (6-12).
With one down in the first, Tocci and Chace Numata connected for back-to-back doubles to put Clearwater in the lead. Kyle Martin followed by ripping a triple to right-center to score Numata, giving the Threshers a 2-0 edge on Martin's first three-bagger of the year.
The Manatees (15-50) tied it with two out in the second, when Jose Cuas doubled home a pair with two outs off starter Austin Davis.
Yacksel Rios (4-3) took over with the game tied in the third inning, and gave the Threshers 2.1 hitless innings in relief to earn the victory.
Clearwater bounced back in front in the fourth inning.
Jiandido Tromp set the stage by driving a deep fly toward the corner in left for a leadoff triple. An out later, Canelo brought Tromp in with a sacrifice fly to center, giving Clearwater the 3-2 lead.
Ulises Joaquin took over for Rios in the sixth inning, and hurled two scoreless to lock down his 10th save.
Florida State League Stories from August 31, 2016
- Tampa Yankees Postpone Game vs. Lakeland - Tampa Yankees
- Doubleheader Between Mets, Stone Crabs Cancelled - St. Lucie Mets
- Threshers Double up Manatees, Gain Ground in Race - Clearwater Threshers
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