Offense Explodes, Threshers Snap Losing Skid In 9-1 Win Over Tarpons

BOX SCORE

TAMPA, FL - The Clearwater Threshers slashed out 17 hits in a 9-1 victory in the series opener against the Tampa Tarpons at Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday night, snapping a six-game losing streak.

Left-hander Scott Moss, on MiLB Rehab, started the game on the mound for Clearwater and allowed only three hits and struck out three in three innings of work.

The Threshers (10-21, 45-51) opened the scoring in the first inning, using three singles including an RBI base knock from newcomer Caleb Ricketts to make it 1-0. Ricketts joined outfielders Chad Castillo, Cade Fergus, and Troy Schreffler as well as catcher Ryan Letich as new Philadelphia Phillies signees to officially join the Threshers on Tuesday.

Leading 1-0, the Threshers added three more in the third on an RBI double by Schreffler, another RBI single from Ricketts and an RBI single by Erick Brito. Ricketts finished the game 4-for-6 with two RBI in his Clearwater debut.

Following Moss, the Threshers used a trio of left-handed relievers in Jordan Fowler, Jared Wetherebee and Tristan Garnett to hold the Tarpons (19-10, 46-49) to only one run on four hits with eight strikeouts in a combined seven innings.

The Threshers scored one run in each of the final five innings to grow their lead and pull away, as the visitors also got solo home runs by newcomer Fergus and outfielder Leandro Pineda to cruise to a 9-1 win.

Clearwater and Tampa will meet again for a doubleheader on Wednesday night beginning at 4 p.m. Right-hander Starlyn Castillo (0-2, 8.44 ERA) will start the first contest for the Threshers, while lefty Gabriel Cotto (2-3, 4.58 ERA) will start the second. Both games will be seven innings and coverage on the Threshers Broadcasting Network will begin at 3:50 p.m.