Big Second Inning Pushes Threshers Past Tortugas, 8-4

BOX SCORE

CLEARWATER, FL - Fueled by a four-run second inning, the Clearwater Threshers knocked off the Daytona Tortugas 8-4 to even the six-game series on Wednesday night at BayCare Ballpark.

Right-hander Gabriel Cotto made his fifth start of the season for Clearwater, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out five in four innings of work.

Tied 1-1 at the end of one, the Threshers (14-12) loaded the bases and pushed across four runs in the second on a bases loaded walk and a three-run triple from Yhoswar Garcia to make it 5-1. Garcia finished the game 2-for-5 with three RBI.

A trio of Clearwater relievers in lefty Gabriel Yanez and right-handers Malik Binns and Rodolfo Sanchez appeared out of the bullpen for the Threshers, combining to hold the Tortugas to two runs on three hits in the final five innings and striking out eight.

After the Tortugas (13-16) trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the fifth, the Threshers tacked on two more in the home half on a solo home run by Jadiel Sanchez, his third of the season, and an RBI single from Jamari Baylor to make it a 7-3 lead.

The Threshers added one more in the seventh on an RBI single by Wilfredo Flores, and while the Tortugas threatened in the ninth and scratched across one run, Sanchez was able to secure the final three outs to preserve the 8-4 victory.

Clearwater and Dunedin return to action for game three on Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Coverage on the Threshers Broadcasting Network begins at 6:20 p.m.