The Clearwater Threshers have remained solid in the Florida State League battling with a strong Sarasota Reds team to a tie for first place in their division at 21-11 after five weeks of play. Strong pitching continues to be the dominate factor in the Threshers success as they continue to own the league’s best team ERA at 2.92.

This week consisted of three games versus the Sarasota Reds with the Reds getting the series victory two games to one, and then in a four game series versus the Eastern Division’s best team the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers) the Threshers grabbed three of four losing the series finale on Tuesday night in the team’s only double digit loss of the year 14-4. I’ll throw in as bonus an eighth game played on Wednesday afternoon (since it was final at the time of this write-up) where the team downed the FSL’s newest addition, the Vero Beach Devil Rays, 3-1 behind eight strong innings from Carlos Carrasco with closer Mike Zagurski fanning all three batters he faced in the ninth to secure the win.

STARTING ROTATION:

Pat Overholt – RHP (3.29 ERA: 3-3): Pat went 0-1 for the period with one win and one do decision. On the second versus the Sarasota Reds he had his roughest outing of the year giving up seven runs on seven hits with five Ks vs. one walk as the Threshers fell 8-2 in the game. He rebounded nicely on the seventh, but got no decision throwing six innings with two runs on three hits, five Ks, and 1 walk.

Josh Outman – LHP (4.42 ERA: 2-3): Josh picked up two losses on the week moving his record to 2-3 on the year. He pitched a strong game on the third versus the Reds going seven innings and giving up three runs, but got no offensive support as the team fell 4-3 in the game. On the eighth in the series finale against the Manatees he struggled going only 4.1 innings giving up five runs on eight hits.

Carlos Carrasco – RHP (4.05 ERA : 4-1): Carlos had a good week picking up two wins thanks to a strong offense is his first outing allowing him to overcome giving up five runs in five innings of work, but was dominant in his game on Wednesday giving up just one run (a home run) on four hits with eight Ks and two walks.

Dan Brauer – LHP: (2.70 ERA : 4-1): Dan picked up his fourth win with nine runs from the offense going 5.0 innings with three runs on four hits, six Ks and 2 walks.

Andrew Carpenter – RHP: (2.39 ERA : 3-1): Andrew threw another solid eight innings of work as the Threshers offense gave him a 9-2 lead. He scored two Runs on just four hits with eight Ks and only one walk.

BULLPEN:

Will Savage – RHP: (0.53 ERA ): Will finally surrendered his first two runs of the year (one earned) going 5.0 innings in three appearances.

Mike Zagurski (Closer) – LHP: (1.26 ERA : 4 saves): Mike picked up three saves in three appearances giving up no runs on just one hit with seven Ks and one walk. He threw a perfect outing on Wednesday the 9th fanning all three batters he faced to secure a 3-1 win for the team.

Brett Harker(Closer) – RHP: (2.84 ERA : 4 saves): Brett shut out two games this week in back-to-back games giving up no runs on one hit in 2.0 innings of work against the Manatees on the 5th and 6th of May.

THE OFFENSE:

Jeremy Slayden (OF/DH): Jeremy has broken out in May leading the team with a .471 BA (16/43 at the plate) on the month. He leads the team in HR (5), RBI (29), BA (.342), Walks (21), SLG (.547), and has appeared in all 32 of the games played this year.

Greg Golson (CF): Greg has slumped in May after a strong start but still owns a respectable .275 BA with 13 of his 38 hits going for extra bases. He leads the team in steals with 10 being caught just once and has appeared in every game this year for the team. He has struggled with plate discipline leading the team in Ks (46) against 9 BBs, but has improved as of late with just 9 Ks against 3 BBs in 37 AB in May.

Mike Spidale (LF): After leading the SAL in BA in 2006 Mike got off to a slow start in 2007, but in May has hit an impressive .433 to improve his overall BA to .275.

Clay Harris (1B): Though Clay’s BA has lagged behing his 2006 numbers he has gotten his hits when they counted snd is second on the team in RBIs with 21 in his 26 games including four game winnings RBIs to help the team to their first place standing.

Welinson Baez (3B): Baez is second on the team in SLG (.430) and third in RBIs (18), but has struggled with plate discipline with 37Ks vs 9BBs.