Green Leads Clearwater’s 18-hit Barrage Against Manatees


Cody Ponce
Cody Ponce
Zach Green hit his second home run against Brevard County in this series and his third in as many nights on Friday, leading the Clearwater Threshers to a 9-2 win over the Manatees, at Space Coast Stadium. Clearwater’s 18 base hits were the most they’ve had in a game this season.

Green went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored. His home run against Manatees starter Cody Ponce, was a three-run shot in the first inning that traveled 363-feet. “He’s been swinging it well this series,” said Ayrault of Green. “He’s having a good season.” He’s had 11 RBIs in his last three games, two of those against Brevard County and now has 45 for the season.

Green’s home run followed three straight Clearwater hits to start the game. Carlos Tocci, Scott Kingery and Mitch Walding singled, with Walding knocking in Tocci with the first run. Green followed with the long ball and left no doubt when it left the bat. When all was said and done, Clearwater sent eight men to the plate, had five hits and scored four runs.

The Manatees (23-47, 0-2) battled back in the bottom of the first against Clearwater hurler Elniery Garcia. Omar Garcia started things off with a double and later moved to third on a Dustin DeMuth ground out. Elvis Rubio then hit a double, scoring Garcia and Rubio scored on a Clint Coulter knock, cutting the Threshers lead in half, 4-2. Garcia was pulled in the top of the second in favor of Brandon Diaz. Ayrault said that it was a managerial decision.

Clearwater (41-29, 2-0) added to their lead in the third. Kyle Martin singled and Chace Numata got him to third with a double. Malquin Canelo hit a hot shot that was knocked down by Jose Cuas at short, he alertly picked the ball up and threw Numata out at third, but Martin scored on the play, making it 5-2.

Ponce (0-2) went three innings, giving up five runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out three, throwing 51 pitches, 43 for strikes. This was just his fourth start of the year and he’s still on an innings limit, as he returns from his arm injury that kept him out until the eighth day of this month.

“It’s just one of those deals,” said Ayrault when asked about the rough outing for Ponce. “Learning points. This is his first full season, get out there be ready to go. He had some bleeders that dropped in there, little swinging bunt with a flare. Thing happen. Overall I’m happy that he’s healthy and getting back out there, I’m looking forward to stretching him out.”

Clint Coulter
Clint Coulter
The Threshers added a run in the sixth against Zach Hirsch, when Cord Sandberg hit his second homer of the season over the right-center field wall. It was the only run Hirsch gave up in his three innings of work. He allowed three hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out one. He threw 40 pitches, 31 for strikes. He and Ponce combined to throw 91 pitches and only 17 of those were balls, normally that is a great ratio, but on this night, Clearwater was hitting everything.

Jon Olczak came in to start the seventh, allowing the final three runs. Green had an RBI single, another run scored on a wild pitch and an RBI double by Canelo capped things off. The Manatees attempted to make a comeback in the bottom of the frame when Rubio was hit by a pitch, Coulter singled and George Iskenderian walked to load the bases with one out. Unfortunately, Fidel Pena, who homered on Thursday, struck out, as did Dustin Houle, ending the threat.

“We couldn’t scratch across a run there, it was just a rough night,” said Ayrault. We had a couple chances, we just couldn’t get the job done.”

For more info: Clearwater @ Brevard County boxscore

Rubio and Coulter each had two hit nights for the Manatees, while Kingery, Walding, Martin, Numata, Canelo and Sandberg joined Green with multi-hit nights for the Threshers. Jiandido Tromp was the only starter without a hit.


This series wraps up Saturday night at Space Coast Stadium. Bubba Derby (5-4, 3.96 ERA) will toe the rubber for Brevard County. He will be opposed by Luke Leftwich, who will be making his Clearwater debut. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 6/24/16

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