Miller Returns with Double, Run in Threshers Win

WP: Tyler Bowen (5-2, 7.94)

LP: Jason Reitz (0-3, 3.18)

BOX SCORE

CLEARWATER, FL – MLB’s number 61 prospect Aidan Miller led off Saturday's game for the Clearwater Threshers (74-54, 34-28) with a double and scored the first run in an 8-2 win over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (67-60, 30-32) at BayCare Ballpark. Clearwater goes for the series sweep when they return for the regular season finale on Sunday.

Miller started his first game of the 2026 season with a double to left in the bottom of the first inning. After the first out of the frame, a single from Reece Moroney brought him home from second for Clearwater’s first run. Nolan Beltran followed with a bunt single, and Jonathan Hogart loaded the bases with a walk before Will Vierling grounded into a fielder’s choice that plated Moroney to double the Threshers’ lead. Fort Myers got on the board with a two-out RBI single in the top of the third inning, cutting Clearwater’s advantage in half.

Beltran began the bottom of the third inning with a double, advancing to third after a Hogart single and a walk to Vierling to load the bases. Matt Quintanar followed with a single to left, bringing Beltran home from third to make it 3-1. After Lane Haworth lined into a double play, Victor Cardoza doubled to center, plating Vierling and Quintanar to give Clearwater a four-run lead. A sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning got a run back for Fort Myers, cutting the deficit back to three runs. Matthew Ferrara smacked a one-out double to start the fourth inning, scoring on another RBI single by Moroney to bring their lead back to four runs.

After a scoreless fifth, Mighty Mussels reliever Callan Fang walked Matthew Ferrara and Reece Moroney with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Beltran followed with a single to right, plating Ferrara for the Threshers’ seventh run of the night. Quintanar became the Threshers’ first baserunner of the seventh inning with a one-out single, and he advanced to second when Haworth was hit by a pitch before scoring on a two-out single by Cade Climie to give Clearwater a six-run cushion. Clearwater’s bullpen shut out the Mighty Mussels in the final five innings to seal an 8-2 victory.

Yordanis Guerra struck out three batters with two runs allowed on five hits and one walk in 4.0 innings of a no-decision. Tyler Bowen (5-2) walked one and struck out four batters in 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings to earn the win. James Tallon struck out two and retired all six batters he faced in 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings. Wilmer Blanco walked one and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless ninth inning.

Beltran became the third Thresher (Ferrara, Hogart) with 60 RBIs or more on the season...This marks the first time in the Single-A era that Clearwater has three players with 60+ RBIs...Miller went 1-2 with a walk, double and one run scored in his first minor league game in a year...Moroney secured his first career multi-RBI game...Beltran recorded his 12th career three-hit game...The Threshers will conclude their final homestand of the regular season against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels on Sunday, September 6...First pitch on Sunday afternoon will take place at 12:00 pm...You can purchase Threshers playoff 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 am - 3 pm...Visit our website at threshersbaseball.com for information on tickets and promotions for the Threshers season.