Manatees Struggles Continue Against Threshers


Devin Williams
Devin Williams
The Clearwater Threshers did all their damage in the fourth inning on Tuesday, en route to a 3-0 win over the Brevard County Manatees in the opener of a three-game series at Bright House Field.

Each team had just four hits in the game, but Clearwater made theirs count, against Manatees reliever Devin Williams. Williams was the scheduled starter, but Kodi Medeiros got the call and pitched two innings of no-hit baseball, walking one and striking out two. He threw 16 of his 29 pitches for strikes.

Two of the four Manatees hits came in the third inning on back-to-back singles by Mitch Ghelfi and Blake Allemand against Threshers starter Brandon Leibrandt.

Williams (0-2) came in and retired the side in order in the third, but Clearwater got to him in the fourth. Carlos Tocci led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Chace Numata grounded out, moving him to third and he rode home on a single by Josh Tobias. That was an especially difficult hit, considering there were two strikes on Tobias.

Kyle Martin came up and promptly smacked his 18th home run of the season, giving his team a 3-0 lead they would not relinquish. Williams pitched well outside of the fourth inning. He went the final six innings, giving up three runs on four hits, walking one and striking out four. He threw 93 pitches, 57 strikes.

Clearwater hurlers made those runs stand up, as they proceeded to retire 13 straight Manatees batters. Leibrandt (3-1) went the first five innings, allowing just the two singles. He walked three and struck out six, throwing 84 pitches, 54 strikes.

The only other Manatees hits were a Brandon Diaz eighth inning single and an Elvis Rubio single in the ninth. The Manatees left runners in scoring position in both of those frames. Matt Hockenberry pitched the ninth, earning his seventh save.

For more info: Brevard County @ Clearwater boxscore

The Threshers pitching staff has not allowed a run in their last 24 innings pitched. This loss is the 13th in a row for Brevard County. They will look to snap that streak Wednesday night, as this series continues.

The Manatees (14-44, 37-89) will send Phil Bickford (0-0, 4.26) to the mound, against Shane Watson (4-5, 4.09). First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.

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