Asche Launches Threshers Past Yankees, 5-2

TAMPA, Fla. - Cody Asche crushed a two-run home run in the second inning on Saturday, helping lift the Clearwater Threshers past the Tampa Yankees by a 5-2 final at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The Threshers (23-12) regain a two-game advantage on Tampa (21-14) atop the Florida State League North, heading into Sunday's doubleheader finale.

Asche finished 2-for-4 in the second game of his rehab assignment with the Threshers, as the Phillies' outfielder/third baseman works his way back from an oblique injury.

He chopped a single through the right side in the first inning, then unloaded on a 1-2 pitch for a no-doubt two-run homer in the second. The ball landed in the back of the bleacher seating well beyond the wall in right.

Clearwater took a quick advantage and did not look back.

Carlos Tocci and Asche turned in back-to-back singles off Josh Rogers (0-2) in the first, and Andrew Pullin got the Threshers on the board by dropping a single into center to score Tocci with the game's first run.

After Zach Green was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Chace Numata sent a grounder to first and reached on a fielder's choice, pushing home Asche to make it 2-0.

Up 2-1 in the third, the Threshers played the long ball to expand their lead.

Derek Campbell launched an opposite-field home run to right to open the inning, his first dinger of the season.

With one out, Kingery sent a liner to right over the head of Austin Aune for a two-base hit, his league-leading 11th double of the season. Asche's long drive on a 1-2 pitch gave Clearwater a 5-1 lead.

Elniery Garcia delivered a strong six innings in the start, limiting the league's top offense to two runs on five hits and a pair of walks. Garcia (3-1) collected five strikeouts and threw 57 of his 89 pitches for strikes.

The series wraps up at Bright House Field on Sunday Brunch Day, with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The afternoon will feature a pair of seven-inning contests, as Tyler Viza (4-1) takes the hill in game one and Will Morris (2-1) in game two. The call can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network starting at 12:45 p.m.