Eighth Inning Rally Sparks Comeback Victory 

WP: Hunter Loyd (1-0, 9.00)

LP: Xander Hamilton (0-1, 13.50)

SV: Cristian Hernández (1)

CLEARWATER, FL – Trent Farquhar led the way with four hits and two RBIs, including a game-winning single in the eighth to help the Clearwater Threshers (3-2) earn their first home win of the season in an 8-7 victory over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (3-2) on Wednesday night at BayCare Ballpark. Clearwater aims to keep the momentum going in a Thursday rematch against Fort Myers.

The Threshers put runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings but didn’t capitalize until the third. Farquhar got the rally started with a one-out single up the middle and scored on a hit-and-run double by Aidan Miller to start the scoring. Miller stole third base before Viars singled him in to bring the lead to 2-0.

Fort Myers added a run on an RBI single in the fourth to cut the Threshers lead to 2-1. Clearwater stormed back in the fifth, with Nikau Pouaka-Grego and Luis Caicuto trading doubles to start the frame to give the Threshers a 3-1 lead. Farquhar brought in Caicuto with an RBI triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Miller to extend the lead to 5-1.

Clearwater’s lead lasted until the seventh, when two home runs by Fort Myers flipped the lead to 6-5 Mighty Mussels. Fort Myers added another run in the top of the eighth to increase their lead to 7-5.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Mighty Mussels reliever Xander Hamilton hit Dakota Kotowski with a pitch to put him on first. Pouaka-Grego drew a walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Devin Saltiban. With two strikes, and still two outs in the eighth, Luis Caicuto blooped a double to shallow right field that scored Kotowski easily.

The play continued as the ball bounced past Fort Myers right fielder Maddux Houghton, giving Saltiban a chance to run. He came all the way around from first, evading a tage at home to score and tie the game at seven. On the next pitch, Farquhar knocked in the go-ahead run with a single up the middle to plate Caicuto from second and give the Threshers an 8-7 lead.

Rehabbing reliever Cristian Hernández was dominant in the ninth inning, striking out the first batter of the ninth and getting the next two to ground out. He earned the save, sealing the Threshers first home win in a thrilling 8-7 victory.

Micah Ottenbreit allowed one run on three hits in 3.2 innings of work with one walk and five strikeouts in a no-decision. Brandon Beckel walked one in 1.1 scoreless and hitless frames. Jose Peña allowed five runs on five hits in 2.0 innings of work with five strikeouts. Hunter Loyd (1-0) earned the win, allowing one run on two hits with two walks and a strikeout in 1.0 inning. Hernández earned the save in a 1-2-3 ninth with one strikeout.

Farquhar earned the Threshers’ first four-hit game since Jordan Viars hit four against Tampa in August of last season...It marked a new career-high for Farquhar...Saltiban was Clearwater’s first pinch-runner of 2024...Peña’s five strikeouts were the most by a Threshers reliever so far this season...Miller has stolen at least one base in every game he played this season...The Threshers continue their series against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels on Thursday, April 11th...First pitch is at 6:30 PM on Wednesday...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.