Slugfest Puts Threshers On Top of D-Jays To End Series

On paper, Monday evening's contest between the Dunedin Blue Jays and Clearwater Threshers was to be a pitchers duel.

The Phillies' No. 6 prospect Jarred Cosart versus the D-Jays' Henderson Alvarez. Alvarez, is a flame-throwing right-hander who pitched in two games with the Toronto Blue Jays this spring. It was the hitters who took over the final game in this week's series May 9 at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Clearwater knocked Alvarez out of the game in the third, scoring six runs on nine hits. The Jays sent Cosart to the showers in the fourth after he gave up five runs on eight hits. The Threshers bull pen shut the Jays out the rest of the way and held on for a 8-5 victory. 

Darin Ruf, the big first baseman for the Threshers, was 3 for 5 at the plate with three RBI's after hitting a two-run homer Saturday.

The Florida State League splits the season in half allowing those that struggled early a restart. The Clearwater Threshers clearly are a team that is in position to make the playoffs in the first half. With a record of 21-10, they trail the North Division, leading the Daytona Cubs by just two games.

The D-Jays and Threshers begin their inter-league play this week. The Threshers host the Palm Beach Cardinals. First pitch Tuesday evening is at 7 p.m. and Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.