Threshers Erase Six-Run Deficit but Fall in Extras

WP: Matt Keating (5-4, BS (3), 3.25)

LP: Seth Nightingale (2-1, 5.23)

SV: Alex Bustamante (2)

BOX SCORE:

CLEARWATER, FL – The Clearwater Threshers (42-20) scored eight runs in the final four innings but fell 13-11 to the Tampa Tarpons (30-33) in ten innings on Sunday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark. Clearwater looks to snap a three-game losing streak in Dunedin where they begin a six-game series on Tuesday, June 20.

The Tarpons hit solo home runs in the first and second innings to start off the game with a 2-0 lead. Jesus Rodriguez added an RBI single in the third to make it 3-0 Tarpons. Troy Schreffler was hit by a Baron Stuart pitch to lead off the third inning and stole second base. He advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on an RBI groundout from Jordan Dissin to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Jared Serna hit his league-leading 13th homer in the fourth to bring up the Tarpons advantage to 6-1. The Threshers countered in the home half of the frame, beginning with a one-out walk by William Bergolla. He was called out on a fielder’s choice before Cade Fergus drilled a two-run homer to right-centerfield to make it a 6-3 ballgame.

The Tarpons added three more runs in the seventh to extend their lead to 9-3. Jordan Viars began the Threshers comeback in the seventh with a leadoff single. Troy Schreffler walked and Emaarion Boyd was hit by a pitch from Tampa reliever Cole Ayers to load the bases. Dissin plated the first run of the frame on a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Viars from third. Boyd was caught trying to tag and advance to second for the second out in the inning. Cole Moore drove in Schreffler, who advanced to third on the sacrifice, on an RBI single to make it 9-5. On the very next pitch, Felix Reyes drilled a two-run homer to left to bridge the gap to 9-7.

Viars led off the eighth with a single and advanced to second on a four-pitch walk to Schreffler. Boyd was hit by a pitch from Tarpons reliever Adam Stone to load the bases. Dissin grounded a ball to short, but the ball rolled under the glove of Jared Serna, scoring Viars on the error. Moore grounded into a double play, but Schreffler scored from third to tie the game at nine.

The Tarpons took a 10-9 lead in the ninth, but the Threshers clawed back again in the home half, beginning with a leadoff walk to William Bergolla. Fergus singled him over to third and Viars recorded his third-straight hit, an RBI single off Tarpons reliever Matt Keating to tie the game at 10.

A wild pitch and two errors allowed three runs to score for the Tarpons in the top of the tenth. Moore and Otto Kemp each singled in the bottom tenth, with Kemp driving in Dissin from second to cut the deficit to 13-11. Fergus sent a deep fly ball to the track with the tying run at second, but it was caught to finish the game at a 13-11 loss in 10 innings.

Jonathan Petit threw 4.0 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits with three walks in a no-decision. Braeden Fausnaught tossed 2.0 scoreless and hitless frames with two walks and one strikeout. Danny Wilkinson allowed three runs on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Seth Nightingale (2-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in 1.2 innings, walking five and striking out two. Konnor Ash walked one and struck out one in 0.1 frames.

Clearwater finishes the first half with a league-best 27-9 record at home...Viars tied a career-high with four hits...Dissin became the eighth Thresher to reach 20 RBIs on the season...He tied a career-high with three RBIs...Alifano’s double in the seventh was his first extra-base hit of the season...Fergus is now tied for the team lead in home runs (seven) and RBIs (29)...The Threshers begin a six-game series on the road in Dunedin against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, June 20th... First pitch is at 6:05 pm EST... You can purchase tickets for Threshers games at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.