Threshers Fall 5-1 on Independence Day

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Jordan Guth delivered four strong innings in his first start for the Threshers, but the Dunedin Blue Jays bested Cleartwater, 5-1 on the 4th of July at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Guth lasted four innings and took a no-decision, turning in his longest outing since April 25, 2013. That appearance was also the last time Guth served in a starting role, which came for the Lakewood Blue Claws.

On Friday, Guth held Dunedin to just one run on three hits, working around four walks. He picked up two strikeouts in the 79-pitch effort.

The Blue Jays (6-9) plated the opening run in the first inning. With runners at second and third, Guth was called for a balk, which pushed across the lead runner Nick Baligod to make it 1-0.

Clearwater (5-10) would answer in the second facing knuckleballer Frank Viola (1-0).

Harold Martinez turned on a high knuckler to shoot a single to left, and Brian Pointer followed by drawing a four-pitch walk.

A one-out base on balls drawn by Gabriel Lino then loaded the bases for Angelo Mora. The Threshers' second baseman sent a chopper to the right side, which permitted Martinez to score the tying run on the RBI ground out.

The contest would remain knotted at one until the Blue Jays broke out for three runs in the sixth.

A pair of walks and an infield single off Lino Martinez (0-5) loaded the bases, and the go-ahead run scored on a swinging-bunt groundout by Baligod. A wild pitch and an infield single brought home two more to make it 4-1 Dunedin.

Mora turned in his second-straight multi-hit performance, finishing 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI.

The Threshers will take to the east coast for three games against the first-place Brevard County Manatees, starting Saturday at 6:35 p.m. The call can be heard live on the threshers' broadcast network, beginning with Threshers Live! at 6:20 p.m.