Threshers Downed 6-1 by Dunedin
April 13, 2013 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER -The Clearwater Threshers couldn't come up with their first home win Sunday, falling 6-1 to the Dunedin Blue Jays in front of 1,544 fans at Bright House Field.
Despite getting their first home run of the season, Clearwater (1-3) failed to keep up with the offense of the visiting Blue Jays (3-1) and dropped the season-opening series three games to one. There should be plenty of chances for revenge, as the two clubs meet 13 more times this season.
Dunedin kicked off the scoring in the top of the fourth inning, sparked by a one-out walk drawn by Andy Burns. A ground out to third baseman Maikel Franco allowed Burns to scamper all the way to third on the throw, and he came home on an RBI single from Kevin Patterson off Threshers starter Colin Kleven (0-1). Marcus Knecht slashed a double to left-center field that plated Patterson, and Matt Newman followed with his own double to right that scored Knecht and made it 3-0 Dunedin.
The Blue Jays tacked on a pair in the fifth, with Jonathan Jones and Jon Berti starting the inning with back-to-back singles that put them on first and third. Oliver Dominguez lofted a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Jones. Bertistole second, and Burns singled up the middle to bring him home, giving the Blue Jays a 5-0 lead.
Clearwater got on the board in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, right fielder Cameron Perkins hammered a 2-2 fastball to left field, lifting it over the wall for a solo homer off Dunedin reliever Marco Grifantini. The round-tripper was the first of the season for both Perkins and the Threshers, and it cut the Dunedin lead to 5-1.
The Blue Jays restored the margin in the top of the eighth inning. Newman laced a one-out double to right field, and moved up to third when Derrick Chung singled through the left side. Jones tapped a groundout to second base that allowed Newman to score when first baseman Chris Serritella couldn't dig out the throw from shortstop Jose Mojica. The run made the score 6-1, which is how it stayed.
Kleven took the loss for Clearwater; the righty allowed five runs on five hits and a walk over four innings, striking out seven and hitting one batter. Colby Shreve pitched two scoreless innings of relief, with two hits and three walks allowed. Ryan Nesseth gave up a run on two hits against one strikeoutover two innings of action. Ryan O'Sullivan pitched a scoreless frame with a single strikeout and two hits allowed.
Dunedin starter Efrain Nieves (1-0) earned the victory with five shutout innings, striking out three against three hits and a walk. Grifantini allowed one run on three hits and a walk over three innings; he fanned two. Blake McFarland pitched a scoreless ninth inning, with one strikeout against one hit.
The Threshers have Monday off before they hit the road to take on the Daytona Cubs on Tuesday. Lefty Nick Hernandez will make his 2013 debut for the Threshers against Cubs righty Zach Cates. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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