KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers erased a 2-0 deficit in the first inning and clawed their way to a 4-3 victory over the Florida Fire Frogs at Osceola County Stadium on Tuesday night. The win give the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate its first series win of the season with a
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers erased a 2-0 deficit in the first inning and clawed their way to a 4-3 victory over the Florida Fire Frogs at Osceola County Stadium on Tuesday night. The win give the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate its first series win of the season with a chance for the sweep on Wednesday.
Florida (5-8) jumped out in front with a two-spot in the first with an RBI double from William Contreras and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jefrey Ramos. The crooked number came after Clearwater (4-9) could not bring home a runner with the bases loaded in the top half of the opening frame.
The Threshers answered on an RBI single by Nick Maton in the second to cut the deficit to 2-1. The 22-year-old finished the night with three more hits, and has gone 5-for-10 with six RBI through the first two games of the series.
Madison Stokes stroked a solo shot over the wall in left to knot the game at two apiece.
The score remained tied at two heading into the sixth, but Florida grabbed its second lead of the game due in part to a sacrifice fly from Rusber Astrada, scoring Ramos.
The Threshers responded quickly against the Fire Frogs' bullpen by taking advantage of two errors in the top of the seventh to bring home the tying run.
Daniel Brito's grounder to first was misplayed by Drew Lugbauer, allowing the second baseman to reach safely with one out. Danny Mayer followed by lifting a fly ball to left that was dropped by centerfielder Izzy Wilson, putting runners at first and second.
Maton loaded the bases with a single to right, leading to Simon Muzziotti's line drive off the glove of Riley Unroe at short, plating Brito to make the score 3-3.
Mayer stepped up to the plate again in the ninth against Daysbel Hernandez (2-1), and snapped an 0-for-12 skid by depositing a blast over the wall in left-center to give the visitors their first lead of the game.
Jonathan Hennigan (SV, 1) gave up a single to Kevin Josephina with two outs in the ninth, but left the tying run on base by retiring Brett Langhorne on a fly out to left to end the game.
Austin Ross (1-0) earned the win with two perfect innings of relief on Tuesday night. The right-hander struck out four of the six batters he faced.
Clearwater goes for the series sweep in the finale of the three-game set against the Florida Fire Frogs at Osceola County Stadium on Wednesday. LHP Damon Jones (0-1, 1.13) toes the slab for the Threshers against the Fire Frogs' LHP Hayden Deal (1-0, 0.82). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., with coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m. on threshersbaseball.com.
