Serna Slam Helps Threshers Take Two
TAMPA, Fla. - KC Serna's slam and Ethan Stewart's magic paved the way to a sweep in a Wednesday double header against the Tampa Yankees. The Threshers took game one by a score of 8-5 and shutout the Yankees in game two, 3-0, at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
It didn't take long for Clearwater to open up the scoring in game one.
Roman Quinn led off with a triple and scored on a Brian Pointer single to put the Threshers up 1-0.
Threshers' starter Colin Kleven (2-7) surrendered the lead in the second after Trent Garrison singled home Dante Bichette, Jr. and Yeicok Calderon to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.
The Threshers were quick to respond, as they sent 10 men to the plate in the third to take the lead for good.
Justin Parr, Angelo Mora, and Quinn all walked to load the bases for Pointer, who was hit by a pitch to tie the game at two.
Serna stepped up to the plate looking to put Clearwater back in front.
Serna worked a full count and saw 11 pitches before blasting a grand slam over the left field wall to cap off a six-run inning to put the Threshers ahead 7-2.
Klevin allowed two more runs in the third inning, closing the gap to a 7-4 Threshers' lead.
Short would lead off the fifth inning for the Threshers with a double and come around to score on an Art Charles double to give Clearwater an 8-4 lead.
Tampa (31-36) would try to rally in the seventh against Kleven.
Matt Snyder singled to right and came around to score on a two-out triple by Calderon, ending the day for Kleven.
Lee Ridenhour came on and got Garrison to pop out in foul territory to Serna to end the game and pick up his third save of the season.
The Threshers got out to an early lead again off of Tampa's starter Jaron Long in the second game.
Short led off the second inning with a triple to left centerfield. Chris Serritella plated Short with a ground out to short
Clearwater (16-50) would add onto its lead in the fifth inning.
Parr lifted a one-out double down the left field line and came around to score when Corey Bass ripped a liner into center, extending the lead to 2-0.
The Threshers were not finished, as they used a two-out rally in the sixth to extend their lead even further.
After Pointer and Serna were retired to start the frame, Short added another extra-base hit with a double down the right field line. Serritella hit a sharp liner into right, scoring Short and giving the Threshers a 3-0 cushion.
Ethan Stewart (3-6) took the mound in game two and struggled to get through five innings, but was able to come out unscathed.
After loading the bases with two outs in the third, Stewart was able to get Bichette, Jr. to ground out to third to end the Yankees' threat.
Stewart worked his magic again in the fourth. After walking Cito Culver and Jose Toussen to start the inning, Calderon flew out to center. Culver took off on a tag attempt and was gunned down by Pointer.
Stewart then struck out Wes Wilson to work out of the inning.
The lefty wasn't finished getting out of jams.
Cody Grice led off the fifth with a single and would reach second on a one-out single by Jose Rosario.
Stewart picked Grice off of second base when Mora snuck behind the runner from his shortstop position, took the throw from his pitcher and applied the tag. Greg Bird would fly out to end the inning.
Lino Martinez came on in relief of starter Ethan Stewart and set down the Yankees in order in the sixth.
Martinez would allow two men to reach in the seventh before getting Rosario on strikes to end the game and notch his second save.
The Threshers will be off for the next three days while the Florida State League takes its All-Star break in Bradenton. The Threshers return to action Monday night against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. The game can be heard live on threshersbaseball.com.