Clearwater Threshers Shut Out Tampa Yankees

After being shutout by the Yankees on Sunday afternoon the Clearwater Threshers came to the park on Monday night looking to get back on track. And back on track is exactly where they went. The team executed a nearly flawless game behind a superb pitching effort from starter Carlos Monasterios who went 6.1 innings giving up no runs on just four hits while fanning six batters. Matt German took over for Monasterios in the seventh and picked right up where he had left off giving up just one hit in the final 2.2 innings and striking out two in the process.

Meanwhile the Threshers offense went to work on the Yankees by putting up six runs including a five run fourth inning that would seal the victory. In that fourth inning Matthew Spencer got things going with a lead-off double and moved to third when the Threshers' newest player Mike Eylward singled on a line drive to right field. John Urick then singled to pick up an RBI plating Matt Spencer and sending Mike Eylward to second. Tuffy Gosewisch followed by reaching on a fielder's choice with Mike Eylward scoring on the play and John Urick reaching second on a throwing error by the Yankee's pitcher. Fidel Hernandez then reached on another fielder's choice with John Urick scoring and Tuffy Gosewisch reaching second on yet another Yankee's error. Welinson Baez would step to the plate and pick up an RBI scoring Tuffy Gosewisch and sending Fidel Hernandez to second on the Yankee's third error of the inning. Quintin Berry would single to score Fidel Hernandez from second before he was caught stealing to end the inning. After the inning the Threshers would lead 5-0.

The Threshers tacked on another run in the sixth inning when Gus Milner led off with a double and scored on a Fidel Hernandez RBI single to up the score to 6-0 and that is where the game would end thanks to superb pitching by both starter Carlos Monasterios and his replacement Matt German out of the pen.

The Threshers will face the Yankees for the rubber match in this series on Tuesday night with the Threshers looking for a knock out punch from Tuesday's starter Antonio Bastardo who ranks third in the league in strikeouts with an impressive 22Ks in 15.1 innings of work and an ERA of just 1.15. Bastardo has given up just two runs on the year in three starts, so it should be another exciting night at the park. Be sure to get out and support your home town team in their effort to defend the 2007 Florida State League Championship.

In addition Tuesday night is the Little Anglers kid's club night with terrific promotions all night for members of the Threshers Little Anglers Club at Brighthouse Field. For an investment of just $15 for the entire season your child will enjoy admission to every Tuesday night game all year, a meal at the park, and exclusive kid's clubs activities at each kid's club game.

For his terrific outing on the mound Carlos Monasterios picked up his first and overdue SCHMIDT LIST player of the game award with additional kudos to Matt German for a superb relief effort.