Jiménez Shuts Down Cardinals in 7-3 Win

WP: Estibenzon Jiménez (4-8, 3.60)

LP: Hancel Rincon (9-6, 3.26)

BOX SCORE:

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Estibenzon Jiménez did not allow a run in a 5.0-inning start and the Clearwater Threshers (79-49, 35-28) smacked double-digit hits for the second-straight night in a 7-3 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals (63-63, 26-35) on Friday night at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Threshers look to secure a win in their final regular season series on Saturday night.

Chad Castillo sent Hancel Rincon’s second pitch of the second inning into left field for a leadoff single. He stole second base in the next at-bat and scored on a double by Troy Schreffler that gave the Threshers an early 1-0 lead.

Bryson Ware bunted for a hit on the first pitch of the fourth inning, advancing to second on an error by Rincon. He tagged and moved to third on a flyout and scored on an RBI single by Jordan Dissin to give the Threshers a 2-0 lead. That lead was doubled on a two-run home run by Raylin Heredia which extended the Threshers advantage to 4-0.

Palm Beach scored three runs in the sixth to cut the Threshers lead down to one at 4-3. Zach Arnold started a rally in the eighth with a leadoff home run off Cardinals reliever Cade Winquest. Castillo followed with a single and moved to third on a double by Heredia. Schreffler grounded out to second but drove in Castillo to extend the lead to 6-3. After Trent Farquhar walked, Emaarion Boyd drove in a run on a single to left to give the Threshers a 7-3 lead. The Threshers bullpen retired the final five batters to secure their second straight win by a 7-3 margin.

Jiménez tossed 5.0 shutout innings allowing three hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Cam Brown allowed three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in 1.0 inning. Braydon Tucker threw 2.0 shutout frames, allowing one hit and two walks with one strikeout. Josh Bortka struck out the side in the ninth inning.

Today’s win clinched the overall West Division win for the Threshers...It also secured the best record in the regular season in the Florida State League...Arnold came in as a defensive replacement for Ware in the sixth...Ware extended his hitting streak to a career-best four straight games...Heredia has three straight multi-hit games for the Threshers...His two-run homer in the fourth was his first as a Thresher...Bortka has thrown 5.0 consecutive scoreless innings over his fourth-straight outing...The Threshers continue their final regular season road series against the Palm Beach Cardinals on Saturday evening... First pitch is at 6:00 pm on Saturday, September 9... You can purchase playoff tickets at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.