Clearwater Suffers Sweep, Settles for Split in Series Against Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers' offense struggled to find answers against the Tampa Tarpons in a doubleheader sweep at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Sunday afternoon, as the road warriors fell 4-1 and 2-0. The Threshers' offense managed just four hits during the twin bill.

Colton Eastman (4-4) struggled to keep Tampa (37-48, 9-10) off the board through the first two innings, as the Fresno native allowed two runs on two singles and two doubles through the first two innings to fall into a 2-0 hole.
The Cal State Fullerton product allowed four runs - three earned - on eight hits, a walk and four punch outs through five innings of work in the losing effort.
Danny Mayer launched a 3-0 pitch out to left for his second round-tripper of the series to pull Clearwater (48-38, 12-8) within a run, but Tampa responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to pull away.
The visitors managed just two hits in the opener, with Mayer's home run and a single by Nick Maton with two outs in the first.
The loss in game one on Sunday snapped the Threshers' season-high road winning streak at six games.
Miguel Yajure (5-6) became the first opposing to go the distance against Clearwater in 2019, as the right-hander tossed all seven frames and struck out six while issuing just one free pass.
Alejandro Requena (6-6) tossed his second consecutive quality start, but the offense could not back up the starter's strong performance in the 2-0 loss in game two.
Requena tied a season-high with eight strikeouts in his first complete game of the season. The lone damage against the right-hander came with a two-out rally in the third. The native of Venezuela saw Omar Carrizales reach on a bunt single with one out before punching out Delvi Munoz, but three consecutive singles by Pablo Olivares, Estevan Florial and Oswaldo Cabrera put Clearwater in a 2-0 deficit.
JP Sears (4-4) earned the win for the Tarpons with four hitless innings of relief. The southpaw retired the first 10 batters out of the bullpen before walking Daniel Brito with one out in the sixth.
Matt Wivinis (SV, 5) tossed a perfect seventh to earn his fifth save as a Tarpon.
The Threshers look to reverse their fortune in the opener of a four-game series against the last-place Palm Beach Cardinals on Monday night at Spectrum Field. It has yet to be determined who will take the mound for either side. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. with Threshers Live! The Pregame Show.
Monday features the return of Dog Days of Summer at Spectrum Field! A $6 dog ticket benefits a local pet charity each week, with Monday's proceeds going to SPCA Tampa Bay.