Threshers Never Trail in Third Straight Victory 

WP: Mavis Graves (3-1, 4.32)

LP: Ryan Harvey (0-2, 11.42)

BOX SCORE

TAMPA, FL – With four runs in the first inning, the Clearwater Threshers (22-11) took an early lead and never looked back in an 8-2 victory over the Tampa Tarpons (10-23) on Sunday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field. After a Monday off, the Threshers return home for a six-game set against the Daytona Tortugas on Tuesday night.

Pierce Bennett drew a walk to lead off the game and was moved to third on a double by Trent Farquhar. Luis Caicuto drove them both home with a double to right to open the scoring for the Threshers in the first. Jordan Viars drew another walk and Tarpons starter Ryan Harvey hit Bryson Ware with a pitch to load the bases.

Raylin Heredia drove in a third run for the Threshers on a sacrifice fly to plate Caicuto from third. After Nikau Pouaka-Grego walked, Harvey was pulled from the game and replaced by reliever Ocean Gabonia. The first pitch he threw went wild, allowing Viars to score from third and give the Threshers a 4-0 lead after the first half inning. Tampa responded with two hits and a run in the home half to make it 4-1 Threshers after the opening inning.

A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning put the Tarpons within two runs of the Threshers at 4-2. Heredia walked to leadoff the fourth and moved to second after Pouaka-Grego singled. Both advanced on a wild pitch by Gabonia before he was pulled from the game. Yoljeldriz Diaz came in to replace him and was greeted by a two-run single from Bennett that returned the Threshers lead to four runs at 6-2.

Bennett and Farquhar each drew walks off Tarpons reliever Jordy Luciano to start the seventh inning and Caicuto singled to load the bases. Bennett came home to score on a groundout, and a sacrifice fly from Viars drove in Farquhar to make it 8-2 Threshers.

No runs were scored after the seventh as the Threshers bullpen shut out the Tarpons in an 8-2 victory for Clearwater.

Mavis Graves (3-1) allowed two runs on six hits in 5.0 innings of work, allowing one walk and striking out three in the win. Ethan Chenault tossed 1.0 shutout frame with two hits and one walk allowed along with one strikeout. Jaydenn Estanista struck out one and allowed one hit in 1.0 scoreless inning. Brandon Beckel struck out one batter in 1.0 scoreless and hitless inning. Chase Hopewell retired all three batters he faced in the ninth for a scoreless and hitless inning.

Viars has scored a run in each of the past five games...He now owns the Threshers longest hitting streak this season with a hit in each of his past seven...Thomas has driven in a run in four-straight games...Graves has won every start in which he went 5.0 innings or more...Five of the Threshers starting nine recorded an RBI...The Threshers begin a six-game homestand against the Daytona Tortugas on Tuesday, May 14...First pitch will be at 6:30 PM at BayCare Ballpark...You can purchase tickets for the Threshers season at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457…The Box Office at BayCare Ballpark is also open daily to purchase Threshers tickets…The hours are 10 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday and 10 AM-3 PM on Saturdays.