Rain, Cubs can't keep Threshers down
After tropical storm Debby pushed back the start of the game for 50 minutes, both teams took the field amidst a steady rain that only increased in severity as the game wore on. With the threat of being swept to start the second half looking more and more likely, the Threshers exploded for seven runs in a wild bottom of the eighth to turn the 2-0 game into a 7-2 rout.
The Threshers sent 10 men to the plate that inning, as Cubs reliever AJ Morris took the brunt of the damage. He began the frame by issuing a walk and surrendering a double to Cameron Rupp on a ball that bounced past a sliding/diving Elieser Bonne in right field. A walk to Edgar Duran loaded the bases for Pete Lavin, who chopped an infield single to score Harold Martinez and make it 2-1 Cubs.
After a pitching change, the Threshers got a bases-loaded walk from Drew Hillman, a wild pitch, a sac fly from Chase Utley, and a bases-clearing triple from Zach Collier to make it 6-2. Anthony Hewitt followed Collier's base rip by lining an RBI single into center to push the lead to 7-2.
That would be all Clearwater closer Tyler Knigge needed, as he struck out the side in order in the top of the ninth to seal the victory.
Rupp was the star of the night for the Threshers, as he finished 3 for 3 with two doubles and also threw out four base-stealers on the night. Threshers starter Brody Colvin settled down nicely after allowing a run in the first and the second, finishing with six strong innings pitched.
The Threshers will now hit the road for a four-game set in Palm Beach versus the Cardinals before returning on June 28th to open another six-game homestand. With the win Saturday, they are now 1-2 in the second half.
Shark Bites:
The Threshers made a roster move for the third consecutive day, this time promoting third baseman Cody Asche to Reading...the 21-year-old owned the second-highest batting average in the league at .349... Chase Utley played the field for the second consecutive night, a first for him this season... Harold Martinez made his third base debut Saturday night for Clearwater.