Threshers' Hold Off Stone Crabs in Series Opener

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The offense paved the way for the Clearwater Threshers in the series-opening, 5-3 comeback victory against the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Thursday night at Spectrum Field. The win puts the Philadelphia Phillies' affiliate four games back of first in the Florida State League North division.

Clearwater's (53-50, 17-20) offense got going early against the tough Stone Crab (62-40, 27-9) right-hander Joe Ryan. Daniel Brito hit a lead-off double in the first and was driven in two batters later by Nick Maton's double for a 1-0 lead.
The early run allowed Colton Eastman (5-5) to settle in, as the starter set down Charlotte in order through the first two frames. The right-hander retired the first two in the third before Zach Rutherford belted a home run to left to knot the game at one.
The Tampa Bay Rays affiliate rallied against Eastman again in the fourth with one out. A double from Ronaldo Hernandez put a runner on for Moises Gomez. The No. 12 prospect for the Rays drove a fly ball over the wall in left for a two-run shot to give Charlotte a 3-1 edge.
Despite the damage, Eastman finished off seven strong frames with three runs allowed on five hits. The 2018 fourth-round pick walked one and struck out four in his fifth win of 2019.
Ryan gave the Threshers trouble through the middle frames, as the right-hander struck out eight over six frames of one-run ball. The Stone Crabs called on Jack Labosky for the seventh and Clearwater found a way to rally.
Matt Vierling led off the frame with a double to left and a batter later, Luke Miller grounded a ball to short for an infield hit. Matt Kroon followed with a single to left to plate Vierling and make it a 3-2 game.
Brito then hit a chopper off Labosky over to first that Kaleo Johnson tried to turn to second to force out Kroon. The first baseman's throw nailed Kroon on the helmet and allowed Miller to score and tie the game at three. The big hit came a batter later when Nick Matera, playing for the injured Rodolfo Duran, crushed a go-ahead double to left and gave the Threshers a 5-3 lead.
In the eighth, Oscar Marcelino entered in relief for Eastman, but registered just two outs while loading the bases with three walks. Tyler Carr (SV, 3) was brought in to limit the damage, and the reliever struck out Michael Smith to end the frame and keep Clearwater ahead by two.
Carr set down the Stone Crab offense in order in the ninth to close out the series opener and earn his third save of the season. The Threshers improved to 4-3 against the Tampa Bay Rays' affiliate and 24-26 against teams from the FSL south division.
Brito paced the offense for Clearwater with a two-hit night with a double and two runs scored. The No. 19 prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies raised his batting average in July batting average to .269.
The Threshers continue their series with the Stone Crabs on Friday night at Spectrum Field with game two of the four-game set. RHP Andrew Brown (2-5 7.38) will get the ball for Clearwater against Charlotte RHP Tobias Myers (5-1 3.00). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. on Threshers Live! The Pregame Show at threshersbaseball.com.
On Friday night, the Clearwater Threshers transform into their alternate identities, the Clearwater Beach Dogs. Hot dogs are just 50-cents on Beach Dogs night and the first 1,000 fans on Friday will receive a Beach Dogs figurine.
Friday night's contest also features the Threshers Summer Concert Series presented by Sam '76. Stormbinger will perform after the game as part of the concert series.