Stefan Stellar in Threshers Win

CLEARWATER -- Jeb Stefan turned in an outstanding start Tuesday night at Bright House Field to lead the Threshers to a 3-0 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

Stefan (4-6) tossed six scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and striking out five while walking two. The five strikeouts tied a season-high. It was the second straight start for the right-hander in which he threw six shutout frames.

Lino Martinez and Lee Ridenhour finished off the game with a combined three shutout innings. Ridenhour set down Lakeland in order in the ninth to earn his fourth save.

The combined shutout by Threshers pitching on Tuesday marked the third time in six games that Clearwater has shut out its opponent.

Clearwater (17-51) got on the board right away in the bottom of the first after Roman Quinn led off with a single, then advanced to second on a throwing error by Lakeland pitcher Yorfrank Lopez (3-4). After a single by Brian Pointer, KC Serna drove in Quinn on a grounder to first.

In the second inning, Art Charles led off the inning with a triple to center and later scored on an RBI single by Angelo Mora. Charles finished the game 2-for-3 with two triples and a run scored. Mora also knocked two hits and scored a run.

Serna provided an insurance run in the fifth when he singled with two outs to drive in a run and put the Threshers up 3-0.

The win was also Clearwater's first victory over Lakeland this season. The two teams will close out the series and the first half of the season on Wednesday from Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. First pitch is set for 6:30, with coverage beginning at 6:15 on threshersbaseball.com