Watson Takes No-No into 9th in 3-2 Win
Published on August 5, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Shane Watson carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning on Friday, spinning a career-high 8.1 innings as the Threshers hung on for a 3-2 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Friday night at Bright House Field.
With the win, Clearwater (26-15) moved into sole possession of first place in the Florida State League North, a half game up on the idle Dunedin Blue Jays.
Watson scattered three walks and did not permit a hit through eight innings before Ross Kivett stepped in to the lead off the ninth.
Kivett swung at the first pitch and sent a broken-bat liner into shallow left field for the first hit of the night for Lakeland.
Ben Verlander followed with a flair into left which was caught by Jiandido Tromp on a sliding grab, and AJ Simcox knocked a soft single to right to bring the tying run to the plate.
With Watson at 116 pitches, the Threshers went to the bullpen.
Ulises Joaquin entered and took care of the only man he faced, striking out Kade Scivique to secure the second out of the inning.
Clearwater went to the pen again, this time calling on lefty Jeff Singer to make his High-A debut. Christin Stewart served a single into center to plate Kivett and break up the shutout, and Wade Hinkle followed by squirting a single through the left side against the shift to bring a second run across.
The Threshers brought in Matt Hockenberry to finish it off, and the right-hander secured his third save by striking out Zac Shepherd looking to end the ballgame.
Watson ultimately would be charged with two runs on two hits and three walks, striking out eight across his career-high 8.1 innings, the longest outing for a Thresher this season. Following a one-out walk to Wade Hinkle in the second, Watson (4-4) retired 12 straight and 20-of-21 before Kivett's hit in the ninth.
Clearwater put up some run support for Watson early, getting to Endrys Briceno (2-5) for a pair of runs in the first. With two men on and one out, Kyle Martin drove a sacrifice fly to right to score Zach Coppola with the night's first run. Derek Campbell added a single up the middle to plate Carlos Tocci and make it 2-0 Threshers.
Austin Bossart got the offense going again in the second, knocking a single to right-center with one gone. After Coppola walked and Josh Tobias flew out deep to right, advancing Bossart to third, Tocci singled up the middle to score Bossart and put Clearwater ahead 3-0.
The Threshers will have a chance to take the series on Saturday, when Drew Anderson (1-0) toes the rubber against AJ Ladwig (9-9) at 6:15 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on threshersbaseball.com and the TuneIn app starting at 6 p.m. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Florida State League Stories from August 5, 2016
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- Watson Takes No-No into 9th in 3-2 Win - Clearwater Threshers
- Mets End Skid with 6-4 Victory over Bradenton - St. Lucie Mets
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- Paul's Homer Lifts Miracle to 5-1 Win over Crabs - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Threshers Spotlight: Elniery Garcia - Clearwater Threshers
- Ryan Howard Named to FSL HOF - Clearwater Threshers
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