July 3, 2012 - The Clearwater Threshers got six strong innings from Brody Colvin, and Zach Collier went 2 for 3 with two RBIs to lead Clearwater 5-1 over Brevard County.

In a game that was gridlocked 1-1 until the seventh inning, the Threshers came up with four runs late in the game to push past the visitors and send the season-high crowd home happy with the win.

In front of nearly 9,000 fans at Bright House Field, the team took the field decked out in special patriotic jerseys to celebrate Independence Day one day early. Colvin came out firing, mowing down the Manatees early and often before yielding one run in the top of the fifth.

Pete Lavin got the Threshers on the board a half-inning earlier, lacing a line drive homer to right off Brevard starter Brooks Hall. It was his fourth round-tripper of the season.

The Threshers turned the pitching duties over to right-hander Mike Nesseth to start the seventh. After he retired the Manatees 1-2-3, the Threshers broke it open in the bottom of the frame. Drew Hillman led off and was hit by a pitch, and Jim Murphy followed by grounding a ball to shortstop Hector Gomez, who airmailed the throw to first, allowing both runners to advance into scoring position. That set the stage for Collier's second hit of the game, as he chopped a single over the drawn-in infield to plate both runners.

Clearwater continued on the offensive, as Anthony Hewitt followed Collier by ripping a double down the left-field line for an RBI base knock. Two batters later, Harold Martinez's RBI groundout to second made it 5-1 Threshers.

That would be plenty of support for Nesseth, as he finished the game by throwing two more perfect innings to pick up his first win of the season.

Colvin finished with six innings pitched, allowing one run on six hits while striking out six. Lavin finished 2 for 4 on the night, also adding his ninth stolen base of the year.

With the win, the Threshers move to 7-6 in the second half. They will hit the road for three games in Lakeland followed by three in Brevard County before returning next Wednesday for the start of an eight-game homestand.

Shark Bites:

The Threshers roster continues to undergo changes, as the team added RHP Kyle Simon to the squad on Monday...Simon was one of the two players acquired for Jim Thome last Saturday... On Tuesday, the Threshers added RHP Colton Murray from Lakewood, sending lefty Austin Brough down to the BlueClaws...additionally, infielder/DH Jeremy Barnes was called up to AAA Lehigh Valley... Carlos Alonso is hitting .311 against right-handed pitchers... Only one team has more extra-inning wins than Clearwater.