Threshers Snap Losing Skid, Knock Off Mets 5-2

BOX SCORE

CLEARWATER, FL - The Clearwater Threshers snapped a three-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the St. Lucie Mets on Wednesday night at BayCare Ballpark.

Left-hander Gabriel Cotto made his 17th start of the season on the mound for Clearwater, allowing only two runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts in five innings of work. The southpaw was credited with his third win of the season.

The Threshers (13-25, 48-55) opened the scoring in the third inning, using two St. Lucie errors, an RBI single by Hao Yu Lee and an RBI groundout by Matt Alifano to make it 3-0.

Leading 3-0, Clearwater added two more in the fourth on a leadoff solo home run by Wilfredo Flores and another RBI base knock by Lee to make it 5-0. It was Flores' second homer of the season, while Lee finished the game 3-for-5 with two RBI.

With the Threshers leading 5-0 in the fifth, Cotto allowed two runs as the Mets (21-17, 61-42) cut into the deficit on an RBI groundout by Junior Tillien and an RBI single by Raul Beracierta to make it 5-2.

Right-hander Eiberson Castellano entered on the bump for the home team in the sixth, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts in three impressive innings to keep the Threshers in front.

As both teams went scoreless the rest of the way, the Threshers carried over a 5-2 lead into the top of the ninth. Left-hander Tristan Garnett took over on the mound and struck out the side on 12 pitches to secure his second save of the year and a 5-2 victory.

Clearwater and St. Lucie meet again on Thursday night in game three of the six-game series at 6:30 p.m. Lefty Jordi Martinez (3-6, 4.45 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Threshers, with coverage on the Threshers Broadcasting Network set to begin at 6:20 p.m.