Threshers Swept in Palm Beach

Palm Beach, FL -- The Clearwater Threshers lost the finale of a four game series 5-4 to the Palm Beach Cardinals on Saturday night.

The Threshers (12-49) suffered a walk-off loss for the third time in the series and were swept at the hands of the Cardinals (31-31).

Colin Kleven got the start for Clearwater and went seven innings, allowing four runs - two earned - on seven hits while striking out eight and walking one. Kleven received a no-decision.

Chris Serritella hit his first homer of the season with the Threshers in the top of the second inning to tie the game at one, but a run for Palm Beach in the third put the Cardinals up by one.

The Threshers were down 2-1 until the top of the fifth inning when Clearwater erupted for three runs. After two singles by Gabriel Lino and Justin Parr, both advanced a base after a passed ball and were driven home by a ground-rule double off the bat of Angelo Mora.

Brandon Short then delivered an RBI single to left to score Mora to cap off the big fifth inning for the Threshers and bring their lead to 4-2.

Kleven took a 4-2 lead into the seventh inning but allowed two runs to score on separate wild pitches to tie the game at four.

Lino Martinez was the first out of the bullpen for Clearwater and tossed a scoreless eighth. However, Martinez ran into some trouble in the bottom of the ninth.

Martinez allowed a single to lead off the ninth and was pulled in favor of Jordan Guth after a sacrifice bunt moved the go-ahead run to second.

Guth hit the next batter with a pitch and was tasked with facing the No. 8 hitter Jimmy Bosco with one out and men at first and second. Bosco drilled a single up the middle to plate the game-winning run and send the Cardinals home with a win.

The Threshers return to home Sunday afternoon to face the Daytona Cubs. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. on threshersbaseball.com