Imhof Slows Tortugas in 4-2 Win

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Matt Imhof turned in his best start in a Threshers uniform on Wednesday, holding the Daytona Tortugas off the board through six innings in Clearwater's 4-2 victory at Bright House Field.

The Threshers string of strong starting pitching continued as Imhof (1-1) retired the first 13 batters to start the ballgame, before a one-out walk to Avain Rachal in the fifth inning. The Threshers southpaw quickly got Taylor Sparks to ground into a double play to end the inning, as he faced the minimum through five.

Imhof carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Blake Butler jumped on the first pitch of the frame and pulled a grounder fair inside the third base line, resulting in a leadoff double and the first hit of the ballgame for Daytona (5-9).

Imhof would exit after six scoreless innings of one-hit ball, allowing two walks while striking out three in his first victory of the season.

Clearwater (9-5) got the bats going early against Daytona starter Wyatt Strahan (0-1).

Scott Kingery pulled a single down the first base line to open the home half of the first, and Cord Sandberg followed by driving a double the opposite way to left. After caroming low off the wall, the ball was mishandled by centerfielder Jonathan Reynoso for an error, permitting Kingery to score the game's first run.

After Carlos Tocci's grounder to short moved Sandberg to third, Kyle Martin pulled a single through the drawn-in infield to score Sandberg and make it 2-0.

Two innings later, Tocci tripled to right and scored with two outs on a Mitch Walding single through the right side. The Threshers final run came across in the fourth, when Kingery tripled to left-center and scored on Sandberg's line-drive hit to left.

Sandberg led the offense with a 3-for-4 day, and has reached base in 6-of-8 plate appearances in this series. Kingery also turned in his second-straight multi-hit performance, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Daytona's two runs came with two outs in the ninth, when Rachal turned on a 1-1 pitch from Miguel Nunez and drove his third homer of the year, scoring Ty Washington to cut the lead in half.

The Threshers will go for the sweep on Thursday, with the return of Taps and Tacos Night presented by Tijuana Flats, as well as Painting with a Twist Night at Bright House Field.

Ranfi Casimiro (2-0) takes the hill against Daytona's Tejay Antone (1-0), with first pitch set for 7 p.m. The call can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network starting at 6:45 p.m.