‘Tugas Late Push Falls Short in Series-Opening Setback

CLEARWATER, Fla—The Daytona Tortugas battled back from two runs down to briefly tie the game, but the Clearwater Threshers held off a pair of late scoring pushes from Daytona, as Clearwater took a 4-2 victory in front of 4,274 at BayCare Ballpark on Tuesday night.

Clearwater (23-11) improved their Florida State League-best record while Daytona (18-16)’s rough patch continued with their third straight loss and the sixth in their past seven games.

In the bottom of the first, Clearwater took the lead against Daytona starter Adam Serwinowski. With one out, a hit batter was followed by three straight singles, with a single by Devin Saltiban bringing in the first run of the contest. With the bases loaded, the southpaw retired the next two hitters, but Clearwater had a 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless second, the Threshers added to the lead in the third. A double by Keaton Anthony began the frame and he went to third on an error with one out. Raylin Heredia then ripped an RBI single to left to score Anthony with an unearned run to put Clearwater ahead 2-0.

Daytona had runners aboard in each of the first three innings against Micah Ottenbreit, but failed to score. However, the in the fourth the Tortugas got on the board. Connor Burns singled with one out, then came all the way home on a two-out RBI double from Carter Graham to pull Daytona within 2-1.

The score remained 2-1 as Nestor Lorant came on in the fourth and spun 2.0 scoreless innings, working around a pair of runners in the fifth. Otterbreit, meanwhile, managed to finish 5.0 innings before handing things off to Jose Pena in the sixth.

Against Pena, Ariel Almonte drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on a groundout. A wild pitch then moved Almonte to third. After a strikeout, Malvin Valdez came through with a bloop single down the left-field line to bring in Almonte, tying the game 2-2.

However, Clearwater answered right back. Anyer Laureano came on for the bottom of the sixth and was greeted by a solo home run from Avery Owusu-Asiedu to begin the inning. Laureano (1-2) walked the bases loaded before ending the inning with a strikeout, but the Threshers had a 3-2 lead that they would not relinquish.

Daytona loaded the bases on a single and two walks against Pena in the seventh. However, Paxton Thompson came on and shut the door to preserve the lead.

Against Jonah Hurney in the bottom of the seventh, Clearwater put together a two-out rally as Owusu-Asiedu doubled, then came home on a Dakota Kotowski triple to extend the Threshers’ lead to 4-2.

Daytona mounted a threat in the top of the eighth as Trey Faltine led off with a double and moved to third on Valdez’s second hit of the night with one out. At that point, Drew Garrett entered for Clearwater and picked up a strikeout and a pop-up to leave the runners on the corners.

The Clearwater right-hander stayed on for the ninth and surrendered a one-out walk, but nothing more as he shut down the Tortugas to secure a 4-2 win for Clearwater.

Daytona will play game two in Clearwater against the Threshers on Wednesday afternoon. Daytona will start RHP Ben Brutti while Clearwater’s starter is still to be announced. First pitch from BayCare Ballpark is scheduled for noon with pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network with Brennan Mense begins at 11:45 p.m.