The Threshers beat the Lakeland Flying Tigers in a game that amounted to a pitching duel between their respective pitching staffs. They won the game 4-3 on a single by Dylan Cozens in the seventeenth inning.
Continue reading Threshers Win on Cozens’ Walk Off; April 17, 2015
The Threshers rebounded from their season opening home loss against the Dunedin Blue Jays by beating them in their own home opener. The payback didn’t come easy as the Threshers were no-hit through 5 innings and scored their first run without benefit of a hit. But fortunaetly they scored enough to reward David Whitehead with a win for the solid effort he produced. Lee Ridenhour was perfect in a set-up role, and Ulises Joaquin persevered to save the victory.
The game again featured rehabbing major leaguers, Michael Saunders as DH and leadoff hitter for the Blue Jays and RF Domonic Brown batting third and playing 5 innings for the Threshers. Neither figured in the scoring. Continue reading Threshers Win on the Road in Dunedin, 2-0; April 10, 2015
Miguel Nunez Faced the Brevard County Manatees Sunday afternoon and pitched one heck of a game. He threw a season high 8 innings, and 67% strikes before leaving with a 2-1 lead. The bullpen failed to hold on and a ninth inning rally fell short as the Threshers dropped a heart breaker 5-4.
Nunez got offensive support on solo home runs by J.P. Crawford and Art Charles. Crawford came through again in the ninth but it wasn’t enough. Continue reading Nunez Pitching Gem Wasted; August 24, 2014
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 –
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.
Jesmuel Valentin made his debut with the Threshers last night. He singled in his first at bat, stole second, and scored on a Brian Pointer single. That was his last impact on scoring in the game until the bottom of the eighth inning.
Due to a rain out on Monday, two 7-inning games were scheduled Tuesday. The start time was pushed back by afternoon rains again. The Threshers took a quick 1-0 lead on Pointer’s single mentioned above. They re-took the lead on Pointer’s opposite field, 2-run home run in the third inning. Pointer leads the team with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs.
Meanwhile, Miguel Nunez battled and was finally lifted with 2 outs in the fourth inning and the bases loaded. Cody Forsythe recorded the final out of the inning on a pop up to shallow center. Nelson Prada left Forsythe in to close out the game. Looked good until with 2 out and 2 strikes, Kyle Schwarber clubbed a game-tying home run to right in the botttom of the seventh inning.
Lee Ridenhour took the loss in the eighth innng on a routine ground ball to second. Ridenhour walked Bill McKinney with one out. The next batter hit a slow ground ball to Valentin at second. He flipped the ball to Crawford to start the inning-ending double play. Then all hell broke loose. Valentin’s flip pulled Crawford off the bag, runner safe on the Valentin throwing error. Chris Serritella could not handle Crawford’s throw at first, batter safe on Crawford’s throwing error. Serritella retrieved the ball and chased down the batter to tag him out for the second out. Meanwhile, Gabriel drifts up the line toward first base, allowing McKinney to continue home to score the game-winning run without a throw.
In another oddity, the Threshers’ line up included 7 left-handed hitters/switch hitters against the Cubs right-handed starter. The Cubs line up featured 9 left-handed batters against the right-handed Nunez. This in part probably explains Prada’s trying to get 7 outs out of Forsythe.
Prada’s other two bullpen lefties pitched in the night cap, Lino Martinez started and Ethan Martin relieved and got the win. Ulises Joaquin picked up the save. Roman Quinn went 2-2 with 2 walks, 2 runs scored, and his 29th stolen base. Art Charles took the team lead in home runs with his 15th of the season. Valentin and Pointer went 0-3 in the second game. Crawford got the game off.
Colin Kleven posted his 4th consecutive quality start, and third win among those starts, with a solid 105-pitch effort against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. The offense, which was non-existent in Kleven’s 5-hit, 1-0 loss in his last start, staked him to 6 runs Saturday night. Kleven rebounded from a couple of mistakes and left after 6 innings with a 6-2 lead. The big righty kept the Tigers’ batters off balance most of the night and the Threshers held on to win 7-5. Kleven’s final line was – Continue reading Offense Supports Kleven; August 16, 2014
I attended my first GCL game in several weeks today. Denton Keys pitched a solid 5 innings against the GCL Pirates. He scattered 5 hits, 2 walks, and a hit batter allowing 2 runs, only one of them earned. The defense was a little shaky all day. The 3 errors charged were a little generous. A couple more could have been charged.
Austin Davis and undrafted free agent Kyle Bogese combined to pitch the final 4 innings. Davis allowed 3 hits in 2.1 innings but was aided by a pick off and a caught stealing. Bogese got the win with 1.2 innings of no-hit ball. Each reliever recorded 3 strikes out. The Phillies won 3-2. Continue reading GCL, FSL, and Biddle; August 13, 2014
J.P. Crawford belted 2 home runs as he went 3 for 4 with a stolen base to lead the Threshers to an 8-7 victory over the Daytona Cubs. Crawford’s 2 home runs sailed over the Oakley sign in right field for those familiar with Bright House Field. The first cleared the back fence and left the stadium. Continue reading Crawford Clubs Cubs; August 8, 2014
Aaron Nola 2-hit the Miracle through 5 innings and the Threshers scored 9 runs in the second and third innings as Clearwater beat Fort Myers and took the series against the FSL South, first half division champions, three games to one. In the process, they helped drop the Miracle into a second place tie in the second half standings.
Aaron Nola pitched another good game. He allowed one run on 2 hits and a walk. He threw 73 pitches, 47 for strikes. He relied heavily on his fast ball, throwing predominantly 2- and 4- seam fastballs through the first 3 innings. One of his rare early inning curve balls resulted in a strike out to end the first inning. Continue reading Nola/Quinn Lead Assault on Fort Myers; July 31, 2014
We’ve all heard the term “a heartbreaking loss”. Well, if there is such a thing as a “heartbreaking win”, the Threshers put their fans through one this afternoon. Actually, heart wrenching or gut wrenching are probably better descriptive terms
The Threshers hitters were facing a young hurler making his Florida State League debut for the Daytona Cubs. Right hander, Justin Amlung, was 4-0 with an ERA of 1.54 with Kane County in A ball. It seems that most of the games I cover, the Threshers run into guys with sub 3.00 ERAs who shut them down, or plus 4.00 ERAs who pitch their game of the season. Not today. Continue reading Threshers; June 8, 2014
Phuture Phillies 