Threshers edge St. Lucie Mets 2-1

 

Clenney pitches 2.1 perfect innings in organizational debut 

CLEARWATER, Fla. (July 3, 2021) – The Clearwater Threshers edged the St. Lucie Mets 2-1 on Saturday night at BayCare Ballpark (Box Score). 

Threshers leadoff hitter and Phillies No. 5 prospect Luis Garcia scored both runs for Clearwater. He ambushed J.T. Ginn's first pitch of the bottom of the first inning for a home run.

In the sixth inning Garcia hit a leadoff triple. He scored on Johan Rojas's ensuing sac fly to put the Threshers up 2-1. 

The Mets scored their only run on a bases loaded walk by Cole Kleszcz in the fourth inning. That tied the game 1-1. 

Ginn (1-1) took the tough loss. He pitched a season-high 5.2 innings and threw a season-high 80 pitches. After surrendering the homer on his first pitch, Ginn did not give up another hit until one out in the fifth. His final line was 5.2 innings, four hits, two runs, one walk and five strikeouts. 

Nolan Clenney made his Mets organizational debut and pitched 2.1 perfect innings of relief with four strikeouts to finish out the game. 

Threshers reliever Victor Vargas (3-0) pitched four shutout innings to get the win. 

Threshers third baseman Kendall Simmons made a diving stop on a Warren Saunders grounder with two outs in the eighth inning to strand two runners in scoring position. Simmons ended the game by robbing Anthony Walters of an extra base hit with a leaping catch for the final out. 

Saunders, Alex Ramirez, Nic Gaddis, Joe Suozzi and Matt Dyer had the only hits for the Mets. 

The Mets (28-25) and Threshers (28-25) conclude their six-game series on Sunday. First pitch at BayCare Ballpark is scheduled for noon.