Rincon’s Late RBI Single Helps Threshers to Victory to Road Win

WP: Andrew Walling (1-0, 4.84, BS (1))

LP: Mason Vinyard (0-1, 6.00)

BOX SCORE:

TAMPA, FL – Bryan Rincon’s go-ahead single in the eighth and a three-run ninth helped the Clearwater Threshers (6-4) foil a comeback and take down the Tampa Tarpons (4-6) in an 8-4 win on Tuesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The Threshers travel to Tampa on Wednesday night to continue their second road series of the season against the Tarpons

Caleb Ricketts laced a triple into left field with two outs in the top of the first inning to start a rally for the Threshers. Gabriel Rincones Jr. Walked and attempted to steal second. He jumped early and was caught in a pickle. After multiple throws between the first and second basemen, Rincones Jr. Avoided a tag and slid safely into second, while Caleb Ricketts escaped home with a stolen base and the game’s first run.

Clearwater added another two-out run in the second, getting their first baserunner on a Cole Moore single with one out. He moved to second on a groundout and then to third on Erick Brito’s single. Tarpons starter Hayden Merna tried to pick off Brito at first but sent the throw into the stands, automatically advancing Brito to second and scoring Moore from third to make it 2-0.

The streak continued into the third, beginning when Emaarion Boyd was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and promptly stole second. Ricketts drove him in on a single to extend the lead to 3-0.

Rincon reached with a one-out single but was caught trying to steal second during Brito’s at-bat. With two outs, Brito tripled to left to keep the inning alive, and he scored on a single by Justin Crawford to make it 4-0.

Tampa mounted a comeback in the fifth, trading doubles with one out to get on the board before plating three in the sixth to tie the game at four. With two outs in the eighth, Tarpons reliever Mason Vinyard walked Jordan Viars to extend the inning. Cade Fergus pinch-ran for Viars and Vinyard was replaced by Manny Ramirez, who walked Moore to put two on for Bryan Rincon. On the second pitch he saw, Rincon put the Threshers back in the lead 5-4 with an RBI single to left.

Clearwater came back in the ninth and put their first two runners on base with a single by Crawford and a walk to Boyd. During Boyd’s at-bat, Crawford stole second and moved to third on a balk. After Boyd’s walk, Ricketts hit a grounder to Tarpons second baseman Jared Serna, who tried to throw Crawford out at the plate. Crawford slid underneath Augustin Ramirez’s tag to extend the advantage to 6-4. With two outs, Moore hit a routine grounder to first baseman Omar Martinez, but he overthrew Tarpons reliever Shane Gray, allowing two runs to score on the error.

The Threshers allowed one base hit in the ninth, but Orion Kerkering struck out two of the four batters he faced to seal the 8-4 win for Clearwater.

Nick Nelson retired all six batters he faced in 2.0 innings with two strikeouts in a no-decision. Jaydenn Estanista went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Andrew Walling (1-0) earned the win in 1.2 innings, allowing an unearned run on one hit with two walks and a strikeout. Jack Dallas pitched 1.0 scoreless frame with one walk and one strikeout. Kerkering threw the final 1.0 inning with one hit and two strikeouts without allowing a run.

Freylin Minyety ran for Otto Kemp in the ninth...Crawford, Ricketts, and Brito each recorded their second multi-hit game of the season... Rincon’s go-ahead RBI solidified his first multi-hit game of the season... Crawford and Ricketts are tied for the team lead with five RBI... Tuesday marked the first game that the Threshers had more than one player with multiple hits... Clearwater’s eight runs were the most they’ve scored in a game this season... Nelson completed his first rehab start without allowing a baserunner... The Threshers continue their road series against the Tarpons (Single-A, Yankees) on Wednesday, April 19th … First pitch is at 6:30 PM... RHP Starlyn Castillo (0-0, 3.00) is expected to start for the Threshers... You can purchase tickets for the Threshers season at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457.