Biddle Near-Perfect in 4-0 Win

CLEARWATER -- The Clearwater Threshers fell just short of combined no-hitter on Wednesday night at Bright House Field in a 4-0 win against the Daytona Cubs.

After Jesse Biddle went five hitless innings, Lino Martinez took the no-hit bid into the top of the eighth. Martinez got the first out, but Bill McKiney lined a soft single into right to break up the bid with just five outs to go.

Biddle (1-0) was making his first start with Clearwater (20-26) since the 2012 season and earned the win. The Phillies' No. 4 prospect tossed five innings and did not allow a hit while striking out five and walking one.

The lefty finished having tossed 64 pitches - 45 of which were strikes.

The Threshers gave Biddle early run support after Brandon Short hit his third big fly of the season over the left field wall in the second inning.

Clearwater tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by Art Charles. It was Charles' team-leading 13th long ball of the season and it extended the Threshers' lead to 4-0.

Juan Paniagua got the start for the Cubs and was charged with the loss. Paniagua (1-2) threw 4.1 innings and gave up four earned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out six.

Things got interesting later on in the eighth after the Cubs loaded the bases with two outs. Facing the potential-tying run, Ulises Joaquin got Jacob Hannemann to strike out and preserve the shutout.

Roman Quinn saw his 20 game on-base streak snapped after an 0-for-4 night at the plate.

The Threshers will look to gain some more ground on the North leading Cubs Thursday at Bright House Field. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. Mark Leiter, Jr. will get the call for Clearwater while Tayler Scott toes the rubber for Daytona. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on threshersbaseball.com.