Threshers Come Up Short 6-2 on Thursday

BOX SCORE

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Clearwater Threshers battle back in the ninth but fall short to the Blue Jays 6-2 on Thursday night.

The game went scoreless until the fifth inning Dunedin (5-10) put up four runs. Justin Ammons singled to lead off the inning followed by a walk and a single to load the bases with no outs. Leo Jimenez grounded into a force out that allowed Ammons to score and Miguel Hiraldo hit a ground out to second that was enough for Glenn Santiago to cross the plate. Orelvis Martinez hit a sharp RBI double and Zach Britton’s ground ball single pushed the fourth run across to give the Blue Jays a 4-0 lead.

Dunedin added to the damage in the eighth inning. Two consecutive walks started the inning and Ammons hit a line-drive double to left field to score one. Jose Rivas recorded an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-0.

Clearwater (7-8) gained momentum in the ninth inning. Juan Aparicio was hit by a pitch and Rixon Wingrove drove a double into right field to put two men in scoring position with one out. Ben Pelletier hit a ground ball to third, and a throwing error allowed Aparicio and Wingrove to cross the plate, but the Threshers came up short 6-2.

Jordi Martinez did not allow a run and scattered three hits and three strikeouts across three frames in the start for the Threshers.

Matt Joyce went 2-for-2 in his third game of a rehab stint with Clearwater.

Clearwater and Dunedin play game four of the six-game series on Friday night. The Beach Dogs make their first appearance of the season and canine companions are welcome to attend Bark at the Ballpark. $6 dog tickets benefit The Humane Society of Pinellas. RHP Cristian Hernandez is on the hill for the Threshers against Dunedin’s RHP Winder Garcia. TICKETS