Watson Strikes out Career-High 9 in Loss
May 24, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
Shane Watson struck out nine batters in his Clearwater debut, but the Threshers could not overcome a four-run fifth inning in suffering a 6-4 loss to the Brevard County Manatees in the series opener on Tuesday night.
Watson (0-1) worked five innings in his first outing in High-A, surrendering five runs - four earned - on six hits and three walks. The nine strikeouts set a career-high for the 22-year-old, who was drafted 40th overall in 2012.
Scott Kingery turned in a three-hit night, including two doubles to extend his league-leading total to 16. Mitch Walding and Andrew Pullin each finished with two hits.
The Manatees (15-30) grabbed the lead in the first on a pair of errors, but Watson settled in to strike nine of the next 13 men to bat against him.
Brevard County opened it up in the fifth. Following back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt, Dustin DeMuth delivered a double to left to plate two runs. A Fidel Pena RBI groundout later added another, and Elvis Rubio capped it off with a single to center to score Adam Weisenburger, making it 5-0.
Clearwater (27-18) got the bats going in the sixth.
Pullin opened the frame with a double off Bubba Derby (4-2), and Carlos Tocci worked a walk. Kyle Martin came through with a single to center, plating Pullin to get the Threshers on the board. A sacrifice fly by Zach Green cut the deficit to 5-2.
The Manatees wrestled one back in the bottom half. With runners on the corners, Angel Ortega took off for second and got caught up in a rundown, but that allowed Malik Collymore to race home from third to plate the sixth run of the day for Brevard County.
The Threshers would fall short of a comeback after bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Malquin Canelo walked with one out, and Kingery delivered his second double of the ballgame to bring Canelo around.
With two outs, Carlos Tocci singled to right to score Kingery and cut the Manatees lead to two, but Jon Olczak entered and struck out Martin to end the ballgame.
The teams will meet again on Wednesday for game two of the three-game set starting at 6:35 p.m., as Ranfi Casimiro (5-2) takes the hill against Angel Ventura (0-2).
Florida State League Stories from May 24, 2016
- Jays Fight Back, Alford's 1st HR Flies Past Lakeland - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Watson Strikes out Career-High 9 in Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- Cardinals Edge Miracle, 3-1 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Crabs Break Open Game Late, Down Mets 6-2 - St. Lucie Mets
- Strike out Cancer Night June 4th - Tampa Yankees
- Casey Grayson Player of the Week - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Manatees Begin Six-Game Home Stand Tuesday - Brevard County Manatees
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