Threshers Drop Fourth Straight in Walkoff Loss

WP: Michael Hilker Jr. (6-2, 2.10) BS (3)

LP: Luis Avila (0-1, 2.08) BS (1)

BOX SCORE

FORT MYERS, FL – Cade Climie’s second two-run single of the night gave the Clearwater Threshers (63-45, 23-19) the lead going into the ninth, but a walkoff home run from the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (60-48, 23-20) sealed a 6-5 loss for the Threshers on Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium. The Threshers look to snap their longest losing streak of the season when they return for a Thursday night rematch in Fort Myers.

Matthew Ferrara collected the first hit of the game after a scoreless first, beating out an infield single with one out in the top of the second. Ferrara stole second base before he advanced to third on a wild pitch by Eric Hammond. After a two-out walk to Will Vierling, Matt Quintanar punched a base hit into the outfield to plate Ferrara for the game’s first run. After a balk advanced the runners to second and third, Cade Climie took the next pitch the other way out to right field, scoring Vierling and Quintanar to triple the Threshers’ lead.

Fort Myers got two runs back on a home run at the bottom of the third inning to cut Clearwater’s advantage to one run. They scored again on a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth to even the score at three runs apiece. The Mighty Mussels picked up another two-out single in the bottom of the eighth that scored the go-ahead run from second base. Ferrara led off the ninth by drawing a walk against Mighty Mussels closer Michael Hilker Jr. Will Vierling singled Ferrara to second, putting the go-ahead runner on first before he was replaced by pinch-runner Victor Cardoza. Quintanar followed with his second hit of the night to load the bases before Climie lined a base hit into center field, plating Cardoza and Ferrara from second and third and giving the Threshers a one-run lead.

The first Mighty Mussels hitter got out to start the ninth inning, but a triple and a walkoff home run finished the game on back-to-back hits as the Threshers lost 6-5 in the ninth.

Cole Gilley surrendered two unearned runs on four hits in 4.0 innings, walking one and striking out three in a no-decision. Jacob Pruitt gave up one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts in 1.0 inning. James Tallon struck out two of the three batters he faced in 1.0 scoreless and hitless frame. Orlando Gonzalez surrendered one run on three hits with three strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Luis Avila (0-1) allowed two hits and two runs in 0.1 innings to take his first loss and blown save of the season.

Bakes picked up his first career stolen base in the fifth inning...Climie’s two-run single secured his first professional hit and first career multi-RBI game...Quintanar has recorded an RBI single in each of his last two games...Bogenpohl has ten hits in an eight-game hit streak to start his professional career...Ferrara became the third Thresher (Humphreys, Villavicencio) to reach 20 steals in 2026...The Threshers will continue a six-game road series against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels on Thursday, August 13...First pitch on Thursday 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 am - 3 pm...Visit our website at threshersbaseball.com for information on tickets and promotions for the Threshers season.