Waguespack's Start, Garcia's Slam Lift Threshers
June 1, 2017 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jacob Waguespack turned in a strong outing in his second professional start, and Wilson Garcia delivered the big blow with a grand slam to lift the Threshers to a 7-3 win over the Florida Fire Frogs at Spectrum Field.
Clearwater (30-24) has regained sole possession of first place in the FSL North, with 16 games remaining in the first half.
Cornelius Randolph finished 3-for-3, his fourth-straight multi-hit game. Garcia's four RBI were a season-high.
Waguespack did not factor in the decision, but matched a career-high with six strikeouts in his four innings of work. The 23-year-old transitioned to the rotation on May 25 after serving in a relief role through his first 76 professional appearances. He has permitted just two runs on seven hits across nine innings as a starter.
Damek Tomscha gave him an early lead to work with, clobbering an opposite-field home run off Enderson Franco (0-4). Tomscha now has seven round-trippers this year, and is just one short of a career-high.
The Threshers made it 2-0 in the second, when Emmanuel Marrero singled home Randolph with a knock to right-center.
Waguespack worked around a bases-loaded, no out situation in the third, limiting the damage to just a sacrifice fly. He struck out Austin Riley looking on a fastball for the first out, before Braxton Davidson 's fly to right plated Matt Gonzalez . Waguespack then cut down Carlos Castro swinging to end the threat.
Clearwater opened it up in the bottom half.
After Tomscha was hit by a pitch with one out, Deivi Grullon rocketed a hit off the top of the wall in right. Randolph was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Garcia crushed the first pitch on a line over the right field wall for the Threshers first grand slam of the season, putting Clearwater ahead 6-1.
Blake Quinn (2-2) took over in relief, and permitted a run in the fifth before settling down to work a perfect sixth.
Tyler Gilbert earned the save after working three innings in relief, allowing just one run on a Jonathan Morales home run in the ninth.
The Threshers will go for the series win on Friday, when Edgar Garcia (1-1) takes the mound against lefty Tyler Pike (1-1). First pitch is at 6:15 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on threshersbaseball.com starting at 6 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from June 1, 2017
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- Moats Bails out Stone Crabs in 6-4 Win over Yankees - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Errors Costly Again for Blue Jays in Home Loss - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Waguespack's Start, Garcia's Slam Lift Threshers - Clearwater Threshers
- Helsley Twirls Gem in Palm Beach Victory - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Marauders Down Miracle, 5-1 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Mets Stumble in 4-2 Extra Innings Loss to Tortugas - St. Lucie Mets
- Bradenton 5, Fort Myers 1 - Bradenton Marauders
- Seven Threshers Named to FSL All-Star Team - Clearwater Threshers
- Paul, Rodriguez, Navarreto and Clay Named FSL South All-Stars - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Four Tortugas Named to All-Star Game - Daytona Tortugas
- Mets Place 5 on FSL South All Star Team - St. Lucie Mets
- Seferina, Gallen Tabbed as FSL South Division All-Stars - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Lowe, Sullivan and Cronenworth Named 2017 FSL All-Stars - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Greg Bird to Begin Rehab Stint with Tampa on Thursday, June 1st - Tampa Yankees
- Flying Tigers Starting Pitcher Beau Burrows Selected to Florida State - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Florida State League All-Star Rosters Announced - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Nine Marauders Named to 2017 Florida State League South Division - Bradenton Marauders
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