Moniak and Pujols Double in 5-2 Loss

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Mickey Moniak and Jose Pujols both doubled in the first for the Threshers, but the Tampa pitching staff quieted Clearwater late as the Tarpons evened the series with a 5-2 win on Wednesday night at Spectrum Field.
JP Crawford played seven innings at shortstop and finished 0-for-3 in his first rehab game with the Threshers. The Phillies infielder is working his way back from a fractured left hand, as he was placed on the disabled list on June 20.
The Threshers (22-13) (54-51) plated the game's first run in the first. Moniak clubbed a double off the wall in left field, and Jose Pujols drove him home with a double of his own to give the Threshers an early 1-0 advantage.
The double was Moniak's 20th of the season, and Pujols knocked his 14th. Both Moniak and Pujols delivered multiple doubles in Tuesday night's contest.
Clearwater tacked on another run in second courtesy of an RBI single from Raul Rivas. Luke Williams popped up and reached second on a fielding error by Tampa starting pitcher Adonis Rosa (12-3). Rivas' single sent Williams across the plate making it a 2-0 lead.
Tampa (20-18) (55-53) rallied back in the third inning, scoring three runs to take the lead. Steven Sensley drew a leadoff walk, followed by a pop out to short by Ben Ruta, and Estevan Florial walked to put two on for Diego Castillo with one out.
Castillo sent a line drive to center field to score a run. Castillo and Florial pulled off a double steal to put two in scoring position, and Isiah Gilliam lined one off the wall in left field to bring home both runners, but Kevin Markham came up firing and nabbed Gilliam at second base to end the inning on his third outfield assist.
The Tarpons added some insurance in the top of the eighth inning. After a multiple of defensive substitutions were made, Justin Kamplain - who had come in to pitch in relief - stepped up to the plate after Tampa exhausted their entire bench.
Kamplain drew a four-pitch walk, and Kellin Deglan launched a two-run home run over the fence in right field extending Tampa's lead 5-2.
McKenzie Mills (1-5) suffered the loss, giving up three runs on four hits, striking out six and allowing five walks.
Alberto Tirado tossed two scoreless in relief, allowing one hit, with one strikeout and one walk. Grant Dyer gave up two runs on one hit and one walk with a strikeout in his inning of relief, and Will Hibbs threw a scoreless ninth inning.
Clearwater and Tampa face off in the rubber match of the three-game series Thursday Night at Spectrum Field. Ramon Rosso (2-1) gets the nod for the Threshers against Rony Garcia (0-1) with a 7 p.m. first pitch. Kirsten Karbach and Dominic Gallone will be on the call for the Threshers Broadcast Network with the pregame starting at 6:45 p.m.