Threshers Fall in Extras to Finish Season

WP: Rainer Marin (2-0, 0.00)

LP: Cal Higgins (0-1, 11.80)

BOX SCORE

CLEARWATER, FL – A short two-out rally in the tenth put the winning run in scoring position, but the Clearwater Threshers (74-55, 34-29) couldn’t complete the comeback in a 6-4 loss to the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (68-60, 31-32) in ten innings on Sunday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark. The Threshers will travel to Tampa on Tuesday to begin the postseason against the Tarpons.

Fort Myers got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning with a 1-0 lead, but the Threshers answered in the fifth. Jack Hopko reached first on a one-out walk before advancing to second on an errant pickoff attempt by Fort Myers’ reliever Melvin Rodriguez. Tyler Minnick followed with a single to left-center field that plated Hopko to tie the score at one. After Lane Haworth walked, Reece Moroney drove in the go-ahead run with a single to give the Threshers their first lead of the game.

Fort Myers scored on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth to tie the game at two. Neither team scored in the ninth, sending the season finale into extra innings. Twins’ second-rounder Carson Tinney hit a three-run home run to cap off a four-run frame in the top of the tenth. After the first out in the bottom of the tenth, Jonathan Hogart reached on an error, and advanced to second when an error by Fort Myers’ Quentin Young allowed Macon Winslow to reach first and loaded the bases. After a deep flyout by Cade Climie nearly left the yard, Jack Hopko doubled down the left field line to cut the deficit in half. With the winning run at the plate, the Threshers were unable to score another run, falling 6-4 in ten innings in the season finale.

Jacob Pruitt tossed 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings with three walks and one strikeout in a no-decision. Brendan Sweeney surrendered one unearned run on one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Elias Holbert surrendered one hit and three walks with one strikeout in 1.0 inning. Manuel Colon struck out one batter in 1.0 scoreless and hitless inning. Kyler Carmack allowed one run on one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings. Richie Cortese struck out four batters and walked one in 1.2 scoreless and hitless frames. Cal Higgins (0-1) gave up four runs (three earned) on two hits and one walk with one strikeout in 1.0 inning to take the loss.

Sweeney struck out a career-high three batters in a career-long 2.0 innings...Minnick has an RBI single in each of his first two games as a pro...Haworth stole his first base as a pro in the seventh inning...Carmack pitched more than 1.0 inning in a game for the first time since August 2024 in Fort Myers...Cortese finished the regular season with 8.0 scoreless innings in his final five outings...The Threshers will begin the Florida State League Division Series on the road against the Tampa Tarpons on Tuesday, September 8...First pitch on Tuesday evening will take place at 6:30 pm...You can purchase Threshers playoff tickets at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457…The BayCare Ballpark Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 10 am – 5 pm...The box office will be open on Saturdays from 10 am - 3 pm...Visit our website at threshersbaseball.com for information on tickets and promotions for the Threshers season.