Clearwater Threshers Face Ft Myers Miracle on Tuesday

The Clearwater Threshers headed to Ft. Myers on Tuesday looking for some retribution after having been swept by the Miracle in their first three games at home. Things did not start good for the Threshers however as the Miracle jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning after starter Darren Byrd gave up two walks and three singles in the inning.

Fortunately it did not take long for the Threshers to get back into the game. In the third inning the team picked up five runs on five singles, and a costly error by the Miracle that allowed the final three runs of the inning with two outs already on the board.

The Threshers would remain on top 5-3 until the fifth inning when the Miracle started the inning with three straight singles to plate a run before Darren Byrd settled down and got the team out of the inning still holding onto a narrow 5-4 lead.

Andrew Cruse came on in relief in the sixth inning, and got into a bit of trouble putting two men on base with one out, but the team escaped with no damage on a double play that ended the inning sending the game into the seventh inning with the good guys still on top 5-4.

In the seventh inning Andrew Cruse recorded two quick outs, but then gave up a game-tying home run to Johnny Woodard of the Miracle to knot the game at 5-5. Cruse then gave up a walk, and was lifted for Dan Brauer. Brauer came into the game and immediately walked his first two batters to give the Miracle loaded bags with two out. After throwing a first pitch strike to the next batter Razor Shines had seen enough and again made a call to the bullpen. Sam Walls came on as the third pitcher of the inning and became the third pitcher of the inning to serve up a walk allowing the Miracle to get a free run and take the lead at 6-5. The next Miracle batter flared a ball over Welinson Baez head at third plating two more runs putting the Miracle up 8-5. Sam Walls was finally able to get out of the inning with a K, but the damage was done forcing the Threshers into the unenviable position of being forced to make a late rally.

Unfortunately the Threshers could get nothing going and went back to their hotel as losers of their fourth straight game to the Miracle as the Miracle got their first come-from-behind victory of the year at the Threshers'expense. Unfortunately the SCHMIDT LIST player of the game award went unclaimed for the second time this season as the Threshers managed just five hits on the night in the loss.