Threshers Edge Yankees 6-5 for Series Sweep
Published on April 28, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER (Saturday, April 27) -The Clearwater Threshers survived a three-run ninth by the Tampa Yankees, holding on for a 6-5 victory and a three-game sweep Saturday night at Bright House Field in front of 5,090 fans.
The Threshers (11-11) bounced back from a sweep by the Lakeland Tigers by taking three in a row from the Yankees (10-12), never trailing on Saturday night. The game was a sloppier affair than most, with the two clubs combining for seven fielding errors, four hit batters and a wild pitch that brought in a run.
Clearwater opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Left fielder Cameron Perkins reached base on a two-out error by first baseman Saxon Butler, and scooted to third on a single from catcher Logan Moore. Tampa starter Corey Black (1-2) fired a wild pitch with shortstop Jose Mojica at the plate, and Perkins scampered home to score the first run of the game and give Clearwater the 1-0 lead. The Threshers tacked on another in the third inning. Second baseman Carlos Alonso singled with one out to get on base ahead of right fielder Kelly Dugan. A ground ball to second looked like a double play in the making, but Robert Refsnyder's throw was errant, rolling into left field and allowing Alonso to reach third. Third baseman Maikel Franco hit a bouncer to Anderson Feliz at third, who threw too high to first base, allowing Franco to reach safely and Alonso to score.
The Threshers took a 2-0 lead to the top of the fourth, but Tampa quickly equalized. Francisco Arcia hit a one-out single against Clearwater starter Perci Garner, who then walked Eduardo Sosa to put runners on first and second. Mason Williams singled to load the bases with two outs, and Garner then plunked Refsnyder, bringing home Arcia to score. Ben Gamel hit a bouncer to Mojica at shortstop, who booted the ball. All the runners advanced safely, and Sosa scored to even things up at 2-2.
Clearwater moved back into the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Alonso cracked a one-out single, and Dugan blasted a double off the left field wall to score the second baseman and give the Threshers a 3-2 advantage.
The home club added three much-needed insurance runs in the eighth. Perkins drew a leadoff walk from Tampa reliever Fred Lewis, and Mojica walked as well after a Moore line-out. Center fielder Kyrell Hudson sliced a grounder past Butler at first for a double to plate Perkins, and Mojica came home when Sosa's throw from right field went astray. Hudson moved up to third on a ground out to second by Alonso, setting up Kelly Dugan in a big situation. With two outs, Dugan placed a single through the left side, allowing Hudson to score and make it 6-2 Threshers.
Tampa nearly overtook Clearwater in the ninth inning. Reliever Ryan O'Sullivan gave up a double to Refsnyder leading off the inning to get the ball rolling. Gamel hit a liner to left that Perkins muffed, allowing Gamel to reach second and Refsnyder to move up to third. Gary Sanchez ripped a single past first baseman Chris Serritella to score both runners and cut the lead to two runs. Feliz singled into left-center, and Sanchez advanced to third base when Perkins bobbled the ball for a second error. O'Sullivan fanned Butler for the first out, but then plunked Arcia to load the bases. Sosa bounced out to Serritella at first, but the runners advanced on the play, with Sanchez scoring to make it a 6-5 game. With two outs, O'Sullivan got Dan Fiorito to ground out to Alonso at second and end the game with the win intact for Clearwater.
Garner took a no-decision, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six, and hit two batters. Colton Murray (2-0) pitched 2.2 scoreless innings for the win, allowing just one hit. Luis Garcia tossed a perfect eighth inning for the hold, striking out one. O'Sullivan coughed up three runs (one earned) on three hits against one strikeout in his lone inning of action.
Black was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits against four strikeouts over five innings. Matt Daley threw two scoreless frames, striking out four while allowing three hits and hitting a batter. Lewis gave up three runs on two hits and two walks in his only inning of work.
The Threshers play host to the Fort Myers Miracle starting Sunday in a four-game series that pits Clearwater against the top team in the Florida State League to date. Lefty Ethan Stewart will toe the slab for Clearwater against Miracle southpaw Taylor Rogers. It's Sunday Brunch at Bright House Field! Fans can join us for a Brunch Buffet from 12:00 to 2:00 including special entrees and drink specials. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 and $18 on the day of the event. Gates open at noon and first pitch is at 1 p.m., with Ben Gellman's pregame show starting at 12:45 p.m. on ThreshersBaseball.com.
Florida State League Stories from April 28, 2013
- Brevard's Bats Baffled by Bradenton - Brevard County Manatees
- Clearwater Comes up Short 8-7 to Fort Myers - Clearwater Threshers
- Hammerheads Pound Out 13 Hits in Win - Jupiter Hammerheads
- Miracle Hang on for 8-7 Win over Threshers - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Threshers Edge Yankees 6-5 for Series Sweep - Clearwater Threshers
- Threshers Edge Yankees 6-5 for Series Sweep - Clearwater Threshers
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