Threshers Staff Shines in Shutout Victory

WP: Gabriel Cotto (2-0, 1.59)

LP: Miguelangel Boadas (0-1, 1.80)

SV: Wen-Hui Pan (2)

BOX SCORE:

FORT MYERS, FL – Gabriel Cotto followed a big-league arm with 4.0 shutout innings for his second win in as many outings as the Clearwater Threshers (39-14) brought their magic number down to one in a 2-0 win over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (28-26) on Thursday night at Hammond Stadium. The Threshers can clinch a playoff berth with a win tomorrow.

Ryan Leitch and Cade Fergus each singled off Fort Myers starter Miguelangel Boadas to lead off the fifth inning. Erick Brito bunted a single down the third base line, and an errant throw by Miracle third baseman Jorel Ortega allowed Leitch to score the opening run.

Otto Kemp hit a solo home run off Fort Myers reliever Jarret Whorff in the sixth inning to double the Threshers lead to 2-0. Clearwater’s bullpen allowed just two baserunners after the home run and earned their third-straight win in a 2-0 victory.

Bailey Falter tossed 3.0 shutout innings with one hit, one walk and two strikeouts in a no-decision. Cotto (2-0) struck out four in 4.0 shutout innings with one walk and one hit to earn the victory. Wen-Hui Pan earned the save in 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings with one walk allowed and two strikeouts.

The Threshers’ magic number is down to one after the victory over second-place Fort Myers... Pan has pitched a total of 5.0 innings in the two outings where he earned a save...Kemp’s solo homer was his first since the three long balls against Dunedin in May... Four of his five home runs have come on the road...Brito recorded his second multi-hit game of the week...Cotto earned his second consecutive victory in his first relief appearance since 2021...He tossed the most innings by a Threshers reliever this season, tying Braeden Fausnaught with 4.0 shutout frames...The Threshers continue their six-game series against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Minnesota Twins, A) on Friday, June 9th... First pitch is at 7:00 pm EST... You can purchase tickets for Threshers games at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.