Painter Dominates as Threshers Down Tarpons 3-0

BOX SCORE

CLEARWATER, FL - Right-hander Andrew Painter, the 13th overall pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2021 MLB Draft, dazzled as the Clearwater Threshers shutout the Tampa Tarpons 3-0 for a fifth straight victory in front of 4,952 on Saturday night at BayCare Ballpark.

Painter, a 19-year old making his third start of the season, allowed only one hit in five innings and struck out an impressive 14 hitters, including 12 consecutive Tarpons to conclude his outing. The right-hander from Pompano Beach, Florida tossed 70 pitches - 50 for strikes.

The Threshers (6-8) opened a 2-0 lead in the sixth on back-to-back RBI doubles by left fielder Marcus Lee Sang and catcher Anthony Quirion. Clearwater added an insurance run in the eighth on a bases loaded balk call to make it 3-0.

Right-hander Malik Binns worked two scoreless innings on the mound for the Threshers, allowing just one hit and striking out four before fellow righty Tommy McCollum secured his third save of the season with a clean eighth and ninth inning, silencing the Tarpons (6-8) bats for a second consecutive shutout.

Clearwater will look for a six-game sweep on Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. RHP Gunner Mayer is scheduled to start for the Threshers while RHP Chandler Champlain is set to toe the rubber for the Tarpons.