Fergus’ Three-Run Double Paves Way for Threshers Win

WP: Samuel Aldegheri (2-0, 4.19)

LP: Brock Selvidge (3-4, 3.56)

SV: Jean Cabrera (1)

BOX SCORE:

CLEARWATER, FL – Cade Fergus’ bases-clearing double in the fourth inning gave the Clearwater Threshers (42-17) the lead for good in an 8-4 win over the Tampa Tarpons (27-33) on Thursday night at BayCare Ballpark. The Threshers look for their third win of the homestand in a Friday night contest in Clearwater.

The Tarpons hit back-to-back solo home runs in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Otto Kemp sent the first pitch of the fourth for a single off Brock Selvidge. William Bergolla singled and Ricardo Rosario was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Cole Moore walked in a run to cut the Tarpons lead in half, then Fergus cleared the bases with a double down the left field line to give the Threshers a 4-2 lead. He stole third and scored on an infield single by Justin Crawford to extend the advantage to 5-2.

Omar Martinez drove in a run on a groundout in the fifth and seventh to cut the Threshers lead to 5-4. Tarpons reliever Manny Ramirez hit Emaarion Boyd with a pitch to lead off the seventh, and he walked Crawford and Bryan Rincon before he was pulled from the game.

Adam Stone replaced Ramirez, and Kemp plated a run on an infield single to extend the lead to 6-4. Bergolla reached on a fielder’s choice, and Crawford scored from third. A wild pitch by Stone plated Rincon to give the Threshers an 8-4 lead. Jean Cabrera struck out two of the four batters he faced in the ninth to lock up the save and secure the 8-4 win.

Samuel Aldegheri (2-0) earned the win in 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Cabrera earned the save with one run allowed in four innings, walking two with three hits and five strikeouts.

Cabrera’s save was the first of his career...He is the third Threshers reliever to work 4.0 innings of relief in a game in 2023...Kemp is hitting .500 (8-16) over his current five-game hit streak...He also became the seventh Thresher this season to reach double-digit steals...Bergolla has seven hits and three RBIs in three games at home this season...The Threshers continue their series against the Tampa Tarpons (New York Yankees, A) on Friday, June 16th... First pitch is at 6:30 pm EST... You can purchase tickets for Threshers games at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.