Threshers Start Series With Split in Tampa
GAME ONE WP: Luis Serna (1-2, 6.97) LP: Micah Ottenbreit (1-2, 6.23) BOX SCORE TAMPA, FL – With a perfect performance at the plate in game two, Trent Farquhar helped the Clearwater Threshers (19-10) split the series-opening doubleheader against the Tampa Tarpons (9-20), dropping game one 8-2 and winning game
GAME ONE
WP: Luis Serna (1-2, 6.97)
LP: Micah Ottenbreit (1-2, 6.23)
TAMPA, FL – With a perfect performance at the plate in game two, Trent Farquhar helped the Clearwater Threshers (19-10) split the series-opening doubleheader against the Tampa Tarpons (9-20), dropping game one 8-2 and winning game two 4-3 at Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday night. The Threshers and Tarpons return to Tampa to play a nine-inning game on Wednesday night.
Tampa loaded the bases before recording an out in the bottom of the first but were held to one run in the opening frame. They added four more runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-0 lead.
TJayy Walton started the comeback attempt in the fourth inning with a one-out single off Tampa’s starter Luis Serna. He stole second base and advanced to third on a groundout before Devin Saltiban drove him home with a two-out single to put the Threshers on the board. A solo home run in the home half of the fourth brought Tampa’s lead back to five at 6-1.
The Tarpons added another run in the fifth to bring their lead up to 7-1. A sixth-inning home run made it 8-1 Tarpons ahead of the final frame in the seventh.
Raylin Heredia reached with a one-out walk off Tarpons reliever Kris Bow in the top of the seventh. Trent Farquhar walked and Aidan Miller reached on an infield single to load the bases. During Walton’s at-bat, Bow threw a wild pitch that allowed Heredia to score and make it 8-2. Walton walked to load the bases, but they were left loaded, as the Threshers couldn’t add another run in an 8-2 loss.
Micah Ottenbreit (1-2) took the loss in game one after allowing six runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings with two strikeouts and four walks allowed. Brandon Beckel allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout in 2.0 innings of work.
GAME TWO
WP: Jonathan Petit (1-0, 2.08)
LP: Gabriel Barbosa (0-4, 4;94)
SV: Saul Teran (6)
In game two, the Threshers got the scoring started in the top of the second inning. With two outs in the frame, Jordan Viars ripped a double off Tarpons starter Gabriel Barbosa for the game's first hit. He scored from second on a single by Nikau Pouaka-Grego to open the scoring. Avery Owusu-Asiedu plated Pouaka-Grego with a double to left, and he scored on a Dakota Kotowski single to make it 3-0.
The Tarpons tied the game up at three with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Trent Farquhar started the fifth with a leadoff single and moved to second when TJayy Walton was hit by a pitch. With one out in the inning, Devin Saltiban hit a deep fly ball to right field that allowed Farquhar to score on the sacrifice fly and gave the Threshers a 4-3 lead.
Tampa drew a leadoff walk to start the seventh but Saul Teran responded by retiring the final three batters to seal the 4-3 victory.
Jake Eddington allowed one hit and two walks with one strikeout in a 2.0-inning no-decision. Jaydenn Estanista went 1.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing three runs on two hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Jonathan Petit (1-0) struck out five and allowed one hit in 2.1 shutout innings to earn the victory. Teran struck out one and walked one in the ninth to earn the save.
Aidan Miller has reached base in each of his last seven games...Walton recorded his seventh-career multi-hit game...He has now hit safely in five straight games...Farquhar has reached in all four plate appearances in the same game twice this season...Kotowski has now driven in a run in each of his last four games...An RBI in his next game will tie him for the longest RBI streak in the FSL this season...Teran has recorded a win or a save in all seven of his appearances this season...The Threshers continue a six-game series against the Tampa Tarpons on Wednesday, May 8...First pitch will be at 6:30 PM at Steinbrenner Field...You can purchase tickets for the Threshers season at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457…The Box Office at BayCare Ballpark is also open daily to purchase Threshers tickets…The hours are 10 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday and 10 AM-3 PM on Saturdays.