Threshers Take Third-Straight Road Win  

WP: Mavis Graves (1-1, 3.38)

LP: Jerry Huntzinger (0-1, 6.00)

SV: Trey Dillard (1)

DUNEDIN, FL – With two hits and two key runs from Avery Owusu-Asiedu, the Clearwater Threshers (10-5) took their third straight win over the Dunedin Blue Jays (9-6) in a 5-2 series-clinching win at TD Ballpark on Sunday afternoon. The Threshers return home to face the Bradenton Marauders for the second time this year on Tuesday evening.

Keaton Anthony led off a scoreless top of the fourth by drawing a walk off Blue Jays reliever Jerry Huntzinger. He moved to second on a wild pitch, and stayed put after Luis Caicuto was hit by a pitch. A double play moved Anthony to third and Avery Owusu-Asiedu walked to extend the inning. As Owusu-Asiedu attempted to steal second, Dakota Kotowski hit a high-bouncing single into left field. Anthony scored easily from third and Owusu-Asiedu came all the way around from first to make it 2-0 Threshers on the hit-and-run single.

Kotowski drew a two-out walk to extend the top of the sixth against Dunedin reliever Irv Carter. He stole second base before Diego González opened his Threshers account with an RBI double to center that extended the Threshers lead to 3-0.

Dunedin got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Threshers’ advantage to 3-2. Avery Owusu-Asiedu helped the Threshers strike back in the eighth with a leadoff single off newly entered Dunedin pitcher Bo Bonds. While González walked, Owusu-Asiedu stole second and third base before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Trent Farquhar. González moved to third on a wild pitch, then Pierce Bennett drove him in with an RBI single to bring the Threshers’ lead back up to three runs at 5-2.

The Blue Jays put runners in scoring position in each of the final two innings but couldn’t get them accross as the Threshers held on to seal a 5-2 win and clinch the series.

Mavis Graves (1-1) tossed 5.0 shutout innings, surrendering three hits and walking one with nine strikeouts to earn the win. Hunter Loyd allowed two runs on three hits with one strikeout in 0.2 innings. Jaydenn Estanista threw 1.1 scoreless frames, surrendering one hit and one walk with one strikeout. Trey Dillard earned the save in 2.0 shutout frames, allowing two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Graves became the third Threshers starter to strikeout nine batters or more in a game this season...Dillard earned the first save of his career...It was the first six-out save of the year for the Threshers...Caicuto extended his on-base streak to nine games...Owusu-Asiedu recorded his third multi-hit game of the season...He now leads the Threshers with seven steals in seven attempts...González’s RBI double was his first hit and RBI as a Thresher...Sunday’s win put the Threshers’ in sole possession of first place in the Florida State League West through the first 15 games of the season...The Threshers begin a six-game homestand against the Bradenton Marauders on Tuesday, April 23rd with a 6:30 PM first pitch...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.