Bakes, Beltran Provide Three Hits Each but Threshers Fall Short
WP: Matthew Becker (2-0, 0.00) LP: Sean Youngerman (2-6, 5.21) BOX SCORE FORT MYERS, FL – Brayden Bakes smacked three hits in his first three at-bats and Nolan Beltran recorded his fifth three-hit game of the year but the Clearwater Threshers (63-46, 23-20) dropped their fifth straight game in a
WP: Matthew Becker (2-0, 0.00)
LP: Sean Youngerman (2-6, 5.21)
FORT MYERS, FL – Brayden Bakes smacked three hits in his first three at-bats and Nolan Beltran recorded his fifth three-hit game of the year but the Clearwater Threshers (63-46, 23-20) dropped their fifth straight game in a 10-4 loss to the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (61-48, 24-20) on Thursday night at Hammond Stadium at Lea Health Sports Complex. Clearwater looks to stop the skid when they return on Friday night.
Victor Cardoza laid down a bunt single to lead off the top of the third inning and advanced to second on a groundout. On a 3-1 pitch, Matthew Ferrara drove in the first run of the game, scoring Cardoza from second on a double to left field. After the second out, Nolan Beltran ripped a single to right field to plate Ferrara and double the Threshers’ lead. However, Fort Myers got it all back on a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom half of the third, taking their first lead of the night at 3-2.
The Threshers responded with back-to-back hits to start the fourth, a double by Brayden Bakes and a single by Cade Climie that advanced Bakes to third base. Cardoza scored Bakes on a groundout to tie the game at three runs apiece. The Mighty Mussels responded with a run in the home half of the fourth to retake a one-run lead. They added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to triple their advantage to three runs.
Solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings added three more runs to Fort Myers’ lead, giving the Mighty Mussels a six-run lead. After the Mighty Mussels scored an unearned run in the eighth, the Threshers got one back in the final frame, beginning when Ferrara was hit by a pitch from Mighty Mussels’ reliever Hendry Chivilli. Beltran singled him over to second before a base hit to left from Macon Winslow plated Ferrara from second base. That was all the Threshers got in the ninth, as they fell for the third straight game in Fort Myers in a 10-4 loss.
Sean Youngerman (2-6) surrendered four runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 4.0 innings to take the loss. Richie Cortese allowed two runs on one hit and three walks with one strikeout in 1.0 inning. Tyler Bowen gave up three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in 2.0 frames. Wilmer Blanco pitched the final frame for Clearwater, surrendering one unearned run on one hit with a strikeout.
Hogart’s leadoff single was the first hit for the Threshers in the first inning at Hammond Stadium since April Fourth...Ferrara started the scoring with his 20th double of the season...Bakes recorded the first three-hit game by a 2026 Phillies draftee...Winslow has reached base safely in four consecutive games...Beltran recorded the tenth three-hit game of his pro career...The Threshers will continue a six-game road series against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels on Friday, August 14...First pitch on Friday evening will take place at 7:05 pm...You can purchase Threshers tickets at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457…The BayCare Ballpark Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 10 am – 5 pm...The box office will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m...Visit our website at threshersbaseball.com for information on tickets and promotions for the Threshers season.