DAYTONA BEACH, FL - It might have been Bob Ross night, but it was the Clearwater Thresher bullpen painting the corners in a 6-2 decision that sent the Daytona Tortugas to their ninth consecutive loss before 3,764 fans at Radiology Associate Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.Thresher relievers Blake Quinn and Trevor
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - It might have been Bob Ross night, but it was the Clearwater Thresher bullpen painting the corners in a 6-2 decision that sent the Daytona Tortugas to their ninth consecutive loss before 3,764 fans at Radiology Associate Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Thresher relievers Blake Quinn and Trevor Bettencourt combined on four innings of one-hit, shutout relief as Clearwater (49-42 overall, 11-10 second half) stroked 16 hits in this opening game of a three-game series with the Tortugas (35-52,2-20).
Cornelius Randolph paced the Clearwater offense with four hits, including a two-out solo home run in the first.
Daytona closed to 6-2 in the fifth when Brantley Bell led off with a double and scored on Blake Butler's single, but the Tortugas left two in scoring position and never mounted a serious threat the rest of the way.
The Tortugas got on the board in the third when T.J. Friedl's bunt single bought home Jonathan Reynoso, but Friedl was thrown out at home for the third out.
Butler and Friedl each had two hits for Daytona.
Wendolyn Bautista fell to 1-5 while taking the loss, giving up 13 hits while striking out five. Brian Hunter, Juan Martinez and Ryan Hendrix were as equally impressive as the Clearwater bullpen, giving up a combined three hits in their combined four innings.
The series continues Sunday at The Jack for Faith and Family Night. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 PM, with coverage beginning with The Metcare Pregame Show at 5:20 PM on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.
NOTES: Daniel Sweet had his five game hitting streak snapped…Opponents have gone yard on the Tortugas in 10 of the last 12 games…Clearwater now leads the season series 6-2...Bautista has lost five straight starts for the second time in his career and the first since 2013...Juan Martinez tossed a scoreless eighth inning on his 25th birthday. It was the second time he pitched on his birthday in his career (2013).
