Ricketts’ Homer Not Enough as Threshers Drop Second Straight

WP: Cory Lewis (1-1, 4.82)

LP: Alex McFarlane (0-2, 4.05)

BOX SCORE:

CLEARWATER, FL – Caleb Ricketts launched his first home run of the season, but the Clearwater Threshers (4-3), couldn’t overcome a three-run seventh inning in their second-straight loss, a 5-1 defeat to the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (4-3) on Friday night at BayCare Ballpark. The Threshers and Mighty Mussels continue their series on Saturday evening with a 6:30 pm first pitch.

The Mighty Mussels got on the board first, with a leadoff home run on the second pitch of the game by Jorel Ortega. They added another run on a single in the fourth to make it 2-0. But Ricketts cut the deficit in half with a solo home run off Mighty Mussels starter Cory Lewis in the bottom of the fourth.

Fort Myers sent all nine hitters to the plate in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to extend their lead to 5-1. Bryan Rincon reached on an error in the seventh, but after that the Mighty Mussels didn’t allow a baserunner and held on to defeat the Threshers 5-1.

Alex McFarlane went 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out six. Seth Nightingale tossed 2.1 frames in his season debut, allowing one hit and striking out two without allowing a run. Andrew Walling allowed three runs on three hits in 1.0 inning, striking out one and walking two. Jack Dallas threw the final 2.0 innings without allowing a run for Clearwater, allowing one hit and striking out three.

Nightingale struck out two in his professional debut... Ricketts’ homer was his first of the season...It was the fourth home run of his professional career... Kemp ended his on-base streak at five games... McFarlane tied his career high with six strikeouts... Rincones Jr.’s double in the sixth was the first extra-base hit of his career... The Threshers continue their first home series on Saturday, April 15th against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels ... Threshers LHP Samuel Aldegheri (0-0, 0.00) will face off against Mighty Mussels RHP Jose Olivares (0-0, 0.00) … First pitch is at 6:30 PM... You can purchase tickets for the Threshers season at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.