Three-Run Ninth Completes Comeback Win 

WP: Saul Teran (1-0, 0.00)

LP: Eliander Alcalde (1-1, 7.88)

DUNEDIN, FL – Four players recorded a multi-hit game and Pierce Bennett scored three crucial runs for the Clearwater Threshers (8-5) in a 10-7 comeback win over the Dunedin Blue Jays (9-4) on Friday night at TD Ballpark. Clearwater looks to break the series deadlock when they return to Dunedin on Saturday night.

Dunedin started the scoring in the first with a run on a fielder’s choice that made it 1-0. Keaton Anthony began the top of the second inning with a leadoff double off the right-centerfield wall. He moved to third on a groundout and scored on a balk by Blue Jays starter Fernando Perez to tie the game at one.

The Blue Jays added two runs to retake the lead in the home half of the second, but the Threshers responded in kind in the top of the third. Trent Farquhar hit a ground-rule double with one out in the frame and came around to score on a Bennett RBI single. Bennett moved to second on a single by Kehden Hettiger before Jordan Viars loaded the bases with a single of his own. Anthony drove in his second run of the game on a fielder’s choice to score Bennett and tie the game at three.

Two more runs came across for Dunedin in the bottom of the third to retake the lead 5-3. They added another on a bases-loaded double play in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 6-3.

Bennett became the first baserunner in the top of the fifth for the Threshers, reaching on a throwing error by Blye Jays second baseman Bryce Arnold. Hettiger and Viars drew back-to-back walks off newly entered reliever JJ Sanchez to load the bases. With Anthony at bat, Sanchez threw a wild pitch that plated Bennett from third. Shortly afterward, Anthony was retired on a groundout that allowed Hettiger to score from third to put the Threshers within one.

Cristian Feliz homered for Dunedin in the home half of the fifth to bring the Blue Jays lead back up to two at 7-5. The score remained the same until the eighth, which began with a one-out walk to Luis Caicuto. AJ Shaver tied the game with a two-run blast off Dunedin reliever Eliander Alcalde to even the score at 7-7.

Trent Farquhar started off the ninth inning with a single and was replaced by Bennett on first after a fielder’s choice. Hettiger drew a walk before Viars gave the threshers the lead with a single to right field that scored Bennett from second. Hettiger advanced to third on the go-ahead hit and Viars moved to second on the throw. With the infield drawn in, Anthony padded the lead with a two-run single up the middle to make it 10-7.

The Blue Jays got a one-out double in the ninth, but Saul Teran struck out the final two batters to complete the comeback and seal the victory at 10-7.

Jake Eddington allowed three runs on two hits in 2.0 innings of work, walking four and striking out two in a no-decision. Brandon Beckel allowed three runs on three hits with three walks and one strikeout in 2.0 frames. Braydon Tucker surrendered one run on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 3.0 innings. Teran (1-0) earned the win in 2.0 shutout frames, striking out three and walking one without allowing a hit.

Shaver has now homered in both his FCL and Single-A debuts...Every team in the Phillies system won for the first time in 2024...Anthony set a new career-high with four RBIs...Caicuto has a hit in seven of his first eight games...Clearwater came back from three runs down in their largest comeback win of the season...Hettiger played at least one inning at catcher, second and third base...Viars recorded his second multi-hit game of the series...The Threshers continue a six-game road series against the Dunedin Blue Jays on Saturday, April 20th with a 6:30 PM first pitch...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.