FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Threshers Thump Yanks 9-4 Behind Franco's Blasts

Published on April 27, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


CLEARWATER (Friday, April 26) -The Clearwater Threshers rolled over the Tampa Yankees 9-4 Friday night with major contributions from third baseman Maikel Franco in front of 2,115 fans at Bright House Field.

Franco hammered two home runs and drove in seven runs, a season-high for any hitter on the Threshers (10-11). He and left fielder Aaron Altherr each cracked doubles to stay tied atop the Florida State League leaderboard with ten two-sackers apiece. Starting pitcher Hoby Milner (2-2) held the Yankees (10-11) in check over five sterling innings to get the win.

Tampa cracked the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. Gary Sanchez led off with a single off the left-field wall, and advanced to third on a single by Anderson Feliz. Saxon Butler hit an RBI grounder to third base, scoring Sanchez and giving Tampa the 1-0 lead. Clearwater evened things up in the bottom of the frame, though, as Altherr hammered a solo shot deep to left field, making it a 1-1 ballgame.

The Threshers burst ahead in the bottom of the fifth. Center fielder Kyrell Hudson led off with a single against Tampa starter Bryan Mitchell (1-2) and swiped second base. Mitchell hit second baseman Carlos Alonso with a pitch, and right fielder Kelly Dugan drew a walk, loading the bases with nobody out. Franco thumped a double to right, plating Hudson and Alonso while Dugan made it to third base. First baseman Chris Serritella knocked a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Dugan to race home and make it 4-1 in favor of the Threshers.

Clearwater added three more in the next inning. Hudson picked up a one-out walk from Yankees reliever Dan Mahoney and stole second again with Alonso at the plate. Alonso worked his second walk, and after Dugan struck out, Franco lifted a three-run homer over the left field wall to extend the lead to 7-1.

Tampa drew a little closer in the top of the eighth on a solo homer from Robert Refsnyder against Threshers reliever Luis Paulino. The Threshers weren't done yet, though, as Dugan cracked a one-out single to left against Tampa reliever Rigoberto Arrebato to bring Franco to the plate again. The third baseman blasted a homer over the left-field wall for his sixth and seventh RBI, making the lead 9-2.

The Yankees threatened in the ninth inning. After Paulino struck out Feliz, Butler drew a walk and moved to third on a single by Francisco Arcia. Paulino induced a pop-out by Eduardo Sosa, but Dan Fiorito singled Butler home to make it 9-3. Paulino then issued back-to-back walks to Mason Williams and Refsnyder, bringing home another run. The Threshers sent in Luis Garcia to finish the frame, and he got a ground out from Ben Gamel to end the game.

Milner earned the win with five innings of one-run baseball, with five strikeouts against three hits and a walk. Mike Nesseth tossed two scoreless innings of relief with one walk given up. Paulino coughed up three runs on three hits and four walks over 1.2 innings, with one strikeout recorded. Garcia retired the only batter he faced for the save.

Mitchell gave up four runs on six hits and three walks in 4.1 innings, striking out four and hitting one batter. Mahoney surrendered three runs on two hits and two walks in 1.2 innings; he struck out two. Arrebato gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in two innings of work, with two strikeouts.

The Threshers will go for the sweep Saturday, with righty Perci Garner going for Clearwater against Tampa right-hander Corey Black. There will be fireworks after the game for all the fans to enjoy! First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Ben Gellman's pregame show begins at 6:15 p.m. on ThreshersBaseball.com.

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Florida State League Stories from April 27, 2013


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