Threshers Clinch Series with 4-2 Win Over Yankees

Clearwater, Fla. - Back-to-back homeruns by Chris Serritella and Cameron Perkins in the eighth inning helped the Clearwater Threshers (13-14) defeat the Tampa Yankees (11-16) 4-2 on Friday night at Bright House Field.

Tampa took an early lead when Mason Williams hit a leadoff homerun to right. It was Williams' second homerun of the season.  

The Threshers evened the score in the second. Serritella led off with a single. A single by Perkins moved Serritella to third. Logan Moore tied the score with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field.

Yankees starter Shane Greene allowed one run on eight hits and one walk in six innings. He tallied three strikeouts in the no decision.

Clearwater took the lead in the seventh. With one out, Carlos Alonso singled off of reliever Manny Barreda. Alonso moved to second on a groundout by Aaron Altherr. Kelly Dugan then popped up towards shallow left field. The ball bounced off of Gamel's glove and Alonso scored to give the Threshers the lead, 2-1.

Thresher's starter Perci Garner allowed one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out one in seven innings.

LHP Mario Hollands relieved Garner in the eighth. Fiorito led off with a double to right-center. Fiorito moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Eduardo Sosa. Williams then tied the game with an RBI single. After a single by Ben Gamel, the Threshers brought in right-handed reliever Ryan O'Sullivan. Rob Refsnyder proceeded to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Barreda (0-1) returned for the eighth. Serritella hit the first pitch over the left field wall for a homerun. On the next pitch, Perkins drove a homerun to left to give Clearwater a 4-2 lead.

O'Sullivan (2-1) returned for the ninth and worked around a walk by Anderson Feliz and pitched a scoreless frame to earn himself the victory.

The Yankees return home on Saturday when the series wraps up at 6 p.m. It's Pink Out Night sponsored by The Container Store and players will be wearing custom pink jerseys that fans can bid on in a silent auction during the game. There will be a post-game fireworks show sponsored by Bright House Networks, and proceeds from the night will benefit the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Research Center and Institute. Saturday is also Friends and Family Night sponsored by Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. A family of four can enjoy four reserved tickets, four hotdogs, four chips, four sodas, four Tampa Yankees caps, and two passes to Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo for just $38.