Threshers Look To Sweep Miracle

The Threshers followed up on their previous night's hitting rampage with another assault on the Miracle pitching staff.

Clearwater belted out 18 hits and four walks Friday. And the Threshers on base percentage was nearly as impressive with 11 more hits and eight walks Saturday (July 23).

Centerfielder Jiwan James is having a great second half. Since the All Star break the 22 year old is hitting .319. He improved on that number Saturday with two hits, two runs, two RBI's and two bases on balls.

Jarred Cosart's numbers since the All-Star break have been less then stellar. Prior to Saturday's game he had only one victory in six appearances and his ERA was 7.62.

On Saturday he breezed through the first five hitters before the sky darkened and the winds picked up causing two catch-able fly balls to fall in and a single later the Miracle had their first run. 

In the third the Futures All Star Game's winning pitcher gave up two singles and a walk before a bases clearing double by catcher Josmil Pinto. Cosart remained in the game, throwing a scoreless fourth and fifth before being lifted from the game.

On Deck: The Threshers will look for the sweep against the Ft. Myers Miracle at on Sunday. Trevor May who leads the Florida State League by a wide margin in strike-outs is the probable starter, first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Need to Know: Darin Ruf misplayed a fly ball in left during the high winds before a bad storm Saturday. So, he responded to the evil eye laid upon him by pitcher Jarred Cosart with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning.

The GC Phillies lost both ends of a doubleheader to the GC Blue Jays Saturday. In game one Christopher Duffy's third and fourth homers fell well short in a 14-7 defeat.

In game two, 20 year old Ramon Oviedo continued his dominance of Gulf Coast hitters by throwing four shut-out innings. Saturday's scoreless innings come on the heals of his seven inning no-hitter a week ago.

The Jays five run fifth would carry them to a 5-3 win.