Clearwater Tops Brevard County, Avoids Sweep

Clearwater, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers (13-14) won the final game of the series against the Brevard County Manatees (12-14) by a score of 7-3 on Wednesday afternoon at Bright House Field.

Clearwater opened the scoring in the third inning against Brevard starter Jorge Ortega (3-2, 3.00 ERA). Chris Harris singled to left to start the frame. After a balk, J.P. Crawford hit a two-run home run to right field. Two batters later, Andrew Knapp doubled to left. Dylan Cozens then reached on a throwing error by first baseman Garrett Cooper. The error allowed Knapp to score and made it 3-0 Threshers.

Ortega was hit with the loss. He allowed four runs - three earned - on seven hits. He walked one and struck out one.

The Threshers added to the lead in the fifth. With one out, Crawford walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Andrew Pullin then singled up the middle to plate Crawford and give Clearwater a four-run advantage.

The Manatees cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth inning. Omar Garcia reached on an infield single to lead things off. Chris McFarland singled as well on a liner to center. Two batters later, Clint Coulter stepped into the box and launched a three-run homer to the opposite field. It was Coulter's seventh home run of the season and gave him 22 RBI. The homer made it 4-3, Clearwater.

Clearwater would put the game away in the eighth against Tyler Spurlin. With one out, Drew Stankiewicz singled to right. Spurlin threw a pickoff attempt away and hit Devin Lohman to put runners on first and second. Two batters later, Harris walked and the bases were loaded. Spurlin then hit Crawford, walked Pullin and walked Knapp to give the Threshers a 7-3 advantage.

Clint Terry threw two scoreless innings of relief. He allowed two hits and fanned two.

Spurlin surrendered three runs in 0.2 innings and Tristan Archer recorded the final out of the eighth.

Clearwater starter David Whitehead (2-3, 3.28 ERA) earned the win after he allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out seven.

The Manatees return home tomorrow to kickoff a three-game series with the Tampa Yankees. First pitch at Space Coast Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Hiram Burgos (1-3, 3.81 ERA) will start for Brevard County. The Yankees will send Chaz Hebert to the hill.