Richy Returns, Sandberg Homers in 5-2 Win

Cord Sandberg hammered his first home run in a Clearwater Threshers uniform, and Clearwater fended off a late Tortugas threat as the Threshers took the series with a 5-2 win over Daytona at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Thursday night.

The Tortugas (7-14) brought the winning run to the plate after loading the bases in the ninth, but Alexis Rivero struck out Brian O'Grady on a 3-2 pitch to end the ballgame.

John Richy made his season debut on Thursday and delivered a strong five-inning performance. The 23-year old was added to the Threshers roster from Extended Spring on Tuesday, after he was sidelined with a hand injury suffered late in Spring Training.

Richy (1-0), who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Darnell Sweeney in the Chase Utley trade last August, held the Tortugas to one run on four hits and a walk across his five innings.

With the Threshers up 1-0 on Sandberg's third-inning homer, the Tortugas tied it on a hit batter, single, and Jeff Gelalich sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

Clearwater's sixth-inning success continued on Thursday, as the Threshers broke the one-all tie with four runs in the frame.

Sandberg started it with a one-out walk, and Carlos Tocci drove a triple to right to plate Sandberg with the go-ahead run. A wild pitch by Jake Paulson (0-4) permitted Tocci to score and make it 3-1.

Kyle Martin kept it going with a single to left, making it 14 consecutive games in which Martin has reached base safely. Mitch Walding brought him home by ripping a triple to center, upping the lead to 4-1. The RBI was Walding's Florida State League-leading 19th of the season.

After Ismael Guillon entered in relief, Zach Green capped the rally with a sacrifice fly, putting Clearwater ahead by four.

Daytona inched closer on Taylor Sparks' RBI single in the eighth, cutting the lead to three. The Tortugas filled the base paths in the ninth on a Rivero error and a pair of walks, but Rivero held on to send the Threshers to victory.

Clearwater returns home to Bright House Field on Friday, as the Threshers kick off a three-game series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. It's Free-Shirt Friday, Bright House Networks Customer Appreciation Night, post-game fireworks, and a Decades on Dance Party following Friday night's game.

First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. with Ranfi Casimiro (3-0) on the hill against Lakeland's Tyler Alexander (0-3). The game can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network beginning at 6 p.m.