Threshers Drop 5-4 Squeaker to Miracle
Published on April 29, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER (Monday, April 29) - TheClearwater Threshers blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning to fall 5-4 to the visiting Fort Myers Miracle Monday night in front of 1,256 fans at Bright House Field.
The ill-fated Threshers (11-13) allowed a trio of unearned runs to score in the ninth due to a bad hop and an error, allowing the red-hot Miracle (20-4) to surge ahead and retake the lead. Clearwater has now dropped two in a row, while Fort Myers is on a six-game winning streak, its second-longest of the season.
The Miracle opened the scoring in the top half of the sixth. Angel Morales drew a leadoff walk from Threshers reliever Luis Garcia, and Levi Michael belted a one-out homer to right-center field. It was the first round-tripper of the season for Michael, and it put Fort Myers ahead 2-0.
Clearwater took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Third baseman Maikel Franco led off with a single to right field off Miracle reliever Dakota Watts, and first baseman Chris Serritella doubled him home to cut the margin to one run. Left fielder Cameron Perkins blasted a double to center that stayed in doubt long enough to only allow Serritella to reach third, having waited to tag up. A line-out to second and a sharp ground-out to third made it appear as though the Threshers wouldn't be able to equalize. However, shortstop Jose Mojica slashed a single through the right side, scoring Perkins and Serritella to give Clearwater the 3-2 lead. The Threshers added one more in the bottom of the eighth, when right fielder Kelly Dugan hammered a 1-0 fastball from Fort Myers reliever Zach Jones (1-0) over the right-field fence for a solo homer that put Clearwater ahead 4-2.
Fort Myers stormed back in the ninth inning against Threshers reliever Ryan O'Sullivan (1-1). Eddie Rosario drew a leadoff walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Miguel Sano hit a hard grounder to third that took a nasty hop over Franco into left field for a double, putting runners on second and third with no outs. O'Sullivan fanned both Drew Leachman and Kennys Vargas for the first two outs, and got Matt Koch to ground to Mojica. However, the shortstop muffed the play, allowing Rosario to score and all runners to advance safely. With runners on the corners and two outs, Stephen Wickens hit a twisting fly ball down the right field line. Dugan dove at it but couldn't make the catch, and Wickens advanced to third on a two-run triple to give Fort Myers the 5-4 lead. The Threshers got a runner on base with one out in the ninth, but catcher Logan Moore grounded into a game-ending double play to seal the result.
Clearwater starter Gabriel Arias tossed five shutout innings, with four strikeouts against two hits and two walks. Garcia gave up two runs on a hit and a walk in his lone inning of work. Mike Nesseth pitched two scoreless frames of relief, allowing a single hit and whiffing two. O'Sullivan took the loss with three unearned runs on two hits and a walk in his only inning; he fanned two.
Miracle starter Tom Stuifbergen was pulled after 2.2 innings due to injury, having allowed only one hit against a strikeout to that point. Nelvin Fuentes threw 3.1 perfect innings of relief, fanning five. Watts surrendered three runs on four hits in his single inning. Jones earned the victory, with one run allowed on two hits and a strikeout.
The Threshers will try to topple Fort Myers again Tuesday night, with southpaw Nick Hernandez toeing the slab against Miracle righty D.J. Baxendale in a matchup of two unbeaten pitchers. It's $1 Night, presented by florida central credit union! Fans can come join us for $1 general admission tickets, beer, soda, hot dogs and more! There's free admission for all Lil Anglers Kids Club members (just $20 per child for the year) as well! First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m., with gates to open at 6 p.m. and Ben Gellman's pregame show going live on ThreshersBaseball.com at 6:45.
Florida State League Stories from April 29, 2013
- Threshers Drop 5-4 Squeaker to Miracle - Clearwater Threshers
- Galloway Leads Jupiter To Second Straight Win - Jupiter Hammerheads
- 'Tees Offense Rebounds against Marauders - Brevard County Manatees
- Wickens' Triple Lifts Miracle to 5-4 Comeback Win - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Javier Baez Named FSL Player of the Week - Daytona Tortugas
- Casey Lawrence Named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Florida State League Names Players of the Week - FSL1
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