Second Straight Shutout Seals First Half Championship

WP: Luke Russo (3-1, 4.59)

LP: Delvis Alegre (0-3, 4.73)

BOX SCORE

JUPITER, FL – Saul Teran retired all but one of the final six batters to seal the second-straight shutout win for the Clearwater Threshers (43-23) who were crowned first half champs of the FSL West following a 4-0 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads on Thursday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Threshers begin the second half in Jupiter on Friday evening.

The Hammerheads had a perfect game bid last until the sixth inning, when Avery Owusu-Asiedu took Jupiter reliever Delvis Alegre to the opposite field for a single with two-outs to break up the perfecto. Two pitches later, Jordan Viars laced a double to left-center that plated Owusu-Asiedu from first and opened the scoring at 1-0.

The Threshers got back-to-back singles from Keaton Anthony and Raylin Heredia with one out in the seventh, but the rally really got going with two outs. Jared Thomas smacked the first pitch he saw in the inning to left centerfield, scoring Anthony from second base. On the next pitch, Diego González doubled to right, clearing the bases and doubling the Threshers lead.

Clearwater kept the score at 4-0 heading into the ninth, and Saul Teran sealed the victory by striking out the side, clinching the first half for the Threshers in a 4-0 win.

Luke Russo tossed 5.1 shutout frames, walking one and allowing four hits with five strikeouts. Jose Peña struck out four and allowed one hit in 1.2 scoreless innings. Teran struck out four batters in 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings.

Clearwater won the first half for the second-straight season...Last year’s first half was sealed in a four-run road win as well...Russo earned his first road win of his pro career...González had his first multi-RBI game as a Thresher...Clearwater has held Jupiter scoreless since the bottom of the sixth inning on Tuesday...Peña and Teran struck out the side in two of the final three innings...Clearwater and the Palm Beach Cardinals (East) are the two first half champions in the Florida State League...The Threshers continue a six-game road series against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Friday, June 21...First pitch will be at 6:30 PM at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium...You can purchase Threshers tickets at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457…The Box Office at BayCare Ballpark is also open daily to purchase Threshers tickets…The hours are 10 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday and 10 AM-3 PM on Saturdays.