Six-Run First Inning Powers Threshers Past Blue Jays, 7-1

BOX SCORE

DUNEDIN, Fl - Powered by a six-run first inning, the Clearwater Threshers downed the Dunedin Blue Jays 7-1 for a second straight win on Friday night at TD Ballpark.

The Threshers (4-9, 39-39) opened the scoring early, pushing home six runs on eight hits in the top of the first. The visitors batted around and got RBI base knocks from Nick Maton (MLB Rehab), Marcus Lee Sang, Wilfredo Flores, Arturo De Freitas, Nicolas Torres and Erick Brito to make it 6-0 in a 32-minute first inning. It was the most runs the Threshers have scored in one frame this season.

Left-hander Jordi Martinez made his ninth start of the season the mound for Clearwater, allowing only one run on three hits and striking out four in five very solid innings of work. Martinez was credited with his third win of the year.

Leading 6-0 in the second, the Threshers scratched across one more in the third on an RBI sac-fly by Micah Yonamine to make it a commanding 7-0 advantage.

The Blue Jays (7-5, 35-43) only run of the game came in the fifth inning, as catcher Juan Gonzalez smashed a solo homer off Martinez.

Left-hander Taylor Lehman, on a MiLB Rehab assignment from Reading, worked two impressive 1-2-3 scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh. The southpaw allowed no hits and struck out two.

Every hitter in the Threshers lineup reached base at least once in the contest, with DH Andrick Nava being the only player who did not record a hit.

Right-handers Carlos Betancourt and Alex Garbrick combined to shut down the Blue Jays offense the rest of the way, allowing a combined one hit and striking out two preserve the 7-1 victory.

Clearwater and Dunedin will meet again in game five of the six-game series on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Right-hander Jean Cabrera (2-3, 5.34 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Threshers, with coverage on the Threshers Broadcasting Network set to begin at 6:20 p.m.