The Threshers had a fun first inning in game one of a double header tonight.  For the first time all season, I had to change the innings on the score sheet as the Threshers sent 10 batters to the plate.  The big damage came on three-run home runs by Art Charles and Chris Serritella.  Unfortunately, the Threshers’ offense packed it in for the rest of the game.

Roman Quinn, Jesmuel Valentin, Brad Pointer, and Harold Martinez all hit singles in the first to score ahead of the home runs.  The Manatees’ Taylor Williams rebounded from a 33-pitch first inning and shut down the Threshers through the end of the fifth.  Williams is the Brewers’ #13 prospect.  He was their 4th round pick in 2013, #122 overall.  He was recently promoted and came into this game with a 1.80 ERA and 1-1 record in 3 Florida State League starts.

The Threshers’ starter was Colin Kleven.  Kleven is among the league leaders in lowest walks per innings pitched at 1.92 per nine.  He came into the game having allowed 27 walks and striking out 95 batters in 126.2 innings.  He had an easy 1-2-3 first inning.  However, he didn’t appear to have his best stuff, and the plate umpire seemed to squeeze him on a couple of occasions.  He battled but surrendered single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings before a complete implosion in the fifth allowed the Manatees to tie the score.

Kleven’s pitching notes and some game notes –

• Kleven – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• 21 batters, 12 first pitch strikes
• 92 pitches, 57 strikes
• Of the 57 strikes – 5 swinging, 19 called, 20 fouls, 13 balls in play
• Of the 13 balls in play – 6 infield ground balls, 3 fly outs to CF, 4 base hits
• Of the 4 hits – triple off the top of the CF wall, home run to CF, line drive single, ground ball double down the left field line
• 5 three-ball counts – 3B, SF8, BB, K, and a bases loaded BB on the final batter faced
• Kleven allowed 1 run in a 32-pitch third inning where he faced 5 batters and struck out two
• Kleven’s hard luck fifth inning included an HBP on an 0-2 pitch, a failed fielder’s choice when Crawford was ruled off the bag on Valentin’s throw (blown call) on a 1-2 pitch, an errant throw to second by Martinez on another failed fielder’s choice on a 2-2 pitch, then a 6-pitch walk to end his night
• Quinn, Valentin, and Charles each had 2 hits
• Quinn got picked off first after a leadoff walk in the 4th

Forsythe came in with the bases loaded and the score 6-4, nobody out.  Gabriel Lino allowed a passed ball on a pitch where he gave less than minimum effort.  Forsythe did give up a run-scoring single, but his 2 strike outs and inning ending fly ball limited the damage.  Ridenhour gave up a lead off single in the eighth and couldn’t stop the Manatees’ momentum as they pushed ahead the go ahead run.

The Threshers went quietly in the bottom of the eighth, they managed only 4 hits after the first inning, and we’re getting set for another game in 25 minutes.  Yippee.