Five-Run Fourth Lifts Threshers Past Cardinals, 5-4

BOX SCORE

CLEARWATER, Fl - Fueled by a five-run fourth inning, the Clearwater Threshers squeezed by the Palm Beach Cardinals 5-4 for a second straight victory on Saturday night at BayCare Ballpark.

The Threshers (31-30) opened the scoring in the fourth, as Kendall Simmons launched a lead off home run on the first pitch of the inning to make it 1-0. After the home team loaded the bases later in the frame, first baseman Jamari Baylor crushed a grand slam over the wall in right to make it a 5-0 advantage. It was the teams first grand slam of the season, and Baylor's third long ball of 2022.

Right-hander Jean Cabrera made his sixth start of the season for Clearwater on the bump, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out five in 5.1 innings of work.

After the Cardinals (27-33) trimmed the deficit to 5-4 with back-to-back two-run homers in the fifth and sixth, a trio of relievers in Alex McKenney, Tristan Garnett and Tommy McCollum allowed no runs on just one hit in the final 3.2 innings to secure the win. All nine runs accounted for in the contest came via the homer.

McCollum was credited with his fourth save of the season, working a clean 1-2-3 ninth.

Clearwater will look to salvage a split of the six-game series on Sunday afternoon, as left-hander Matt Osterberg (0-5, 4.50 ERA) heads to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and coverage on the Threshers Broadcasting Network begins at 11:50 a.m.