Threshers Falter in Homestand Finale

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers ended their seven-game homestand with a 9-3 defeat at the hands of the Charlotte Stone Crabs at Spectrum Field on Sunday afternoon. The loss wraps up the week with a 4-3 record after the series defeat to the Tampa Bay Rays affiliate.

Damon Jones (1-3) had an up-and-down performance in the losing effort, as the southpaw surrendered a two-run home run off the bat of Moises Gomez in the first inning. The Washington State product worked through the next three innings without a run allowed, but allowed another two-run shot by Gomez, which was followed by a solo blast by Garrett Whitley to put Clearwater (20-22) in a 5-0 hole.
The left-handed starter lasted just 4.2 in the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. The 24-year-old leads the Florida State League 59 punch outs in just 40 innings of work.
The home team got a run back in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded infield single from Matt Vierling. Madison Stokes stepped up representing the tying run, but struck out swinging to end the threat.
Stokes did collect three hits in the matinee. The product of South Carolina extended his hitting streak to nine games, tying Jose Gomez for the team-high during the 2019 season.
The Threshers pulled within two on a bases-loaded, two-run double to left center by Nick Maton, but Jhailyn Ortiz struck out to end the inning.
Clearwater finished the day with 13 hits, but left 13 men on base in the loss, and went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Big league rehabber Matt Duffy hit a solo home run in the seventh for Charlotte (22-21) to push the visitor's lead out to 6-3, and Jim Haley sealed the Threshers' fate with his second three-run home run of the series in the top of the ninth to create a six-run difference.
Michael Plassmeyer (1-0) earned his first win of the season since joining the Stone Crabs. The lefty allowed a run on six hits, a walk and four strikeouts.
Clearwater takes to the road for an 11-game road trip beginning Monday night with a doubleheader against the Daytona Tortugas at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. It has yet to be determined who will take the mound for either side, with first pitch of game one starting at 5:30 p.m. Coverage of the twin bill will start at 5:15 p.m. with Threshers Live! The Pre-game Show on threshersbaseball.com.