FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Threshers Shut out St. Lucie 6-0 Wednesday

Published on June 12, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER (Wednesday, June 12) - The Clearwater Threshers blanked the St. Lucie Mets 6-0 Wednesday in front of 1,632 fans at Bright House Field.

The win helped the Threshers (34-30) take a share of first place in the Florida State League's North Division with only four games left to play; they trail the Dunedin Blue Jays by one tenth of one percent after Wednesday. Clearwater snapped a two-game losing streak to the Mets (33-30) with the win, which was powered by a superb start from Hoby Milner (6-2) and two homers for star third baseman Maikel Franco.

Clearwater opened the scoring in the bottom of the third against St. Lucie starter Rainy Lara (0-2). With two outs, Carlos Alonso sliced a single past Matt Reynolds at shortstop to bring up right fielder Kelly Dugan. The FSL's batting average leader came through with a line-drive double to right, plating Alonso and giving Clearwater the 1-0 lead.

The Threshers doubled their advantage in the bottom of the sixth. Franco led off the inning in style, pounding an 0-1 slider from Lara over the left field fence for a solo homer that made it 2-0 in favor of the home team.

Clearwater blew it wide open in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Wanel Mesa. With two outs and runners on first and second, Franco lifted a towering fly to right field that cleared the wall for a three-run bomb. The homer was Franco's 14th of the season, and made it 5-0 for Clearwater.

The Threshers tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. After shortstop Jonathan Roof reached on a force out, catcher Logan Moore cracked a single to center that Gilbert Gomez booted. The ball rolled to the fence, and Roof sped around to score, pushing the Clearwater lead to 6-0.

Milner twirled a gem for his sixth win, giving up just one hit and one walk against seven strikeouts in 7.2 shutout innings. He faced only two batters over the minimum. Ryan O'Sullivan gave up a hit and a wild pitch and struck out three in 1.1 innings of relief to lock down the win for Clearwater.

Lara took the loss, as he surrendered two runs on six hits and a walk over six innings, fanning five. Mesa coughed up four runs on two hits and five walks in his two innings, striking out three and dealing a wild pitch.

Clearwater will try to pick up another win in their last game before the All-Star Break on Thursday, with southpaw Ethan Stewart starting for the Threshers against St. Lucie righty Domingo Tapia. It's Thirsty Thursday at Bright House Field, with all drinks two for the price of one and a postage concert from Hunks of Funk! Gates open at 6 p.m., and first pitch is scheduled for 7:00, with the pregame broadcast kicking off at 6:45 on ThreshersBaseball.com.

Check out the Clearwater Threshers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Florida State League Stories from June 12, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central