WP: Deiker Pineda (1-0, 8.53)
LP: Jacob Pruitt (3-2, 4.66)
SV: Dax Dathe (2)
CLEARWATER, FL – Brayden Bakes gave the Clearwater Threshers (67-49, 27-23) a brief one-run lead after a two-run blast in the third, but the Dunedin Blue Jays (54-60, 24-25) scored in four of the final six frames as the Threshers fell 7-4 on Thursday night at BayCare Ballpark. Clearwater looks to snap this short skid when they return as the Beach Dogs to face Dunedin on Friday night.
Dunedin picked up a hit on the first pitch of the game before Blue Jays' All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in the first run on a double to left field. They added another run on a fielder’s choice, doubling their lead after the first half of the first inning. With two outs in the home half of the first, Jonathan Hogart ripped a single to left field, advancing to second on an error by Blue Jays left fielder Dean West. Nolan Beltran drove him home with a base hit to center field to cut the deficit to one run.
Beltran worked a one-out walk with one out in the third inning before the Blue Jays made a pitching change. Deiker Pineda entered and allowed a two-run home run to Brayden Bakes that gave the Threshers a 3-2 lead. The leadoff batter, Jake Cook, began the top of the fourth inning with a leadoff home run for the Blue Jays to tie the game at three. Dunedin led off the fifth with another solo shot, returning a one-run lead to the Blue Jays.
With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Dunedin added another run with two outs in the frame to double their advantage. Victor Cardoza started a rally for the Threshers with a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth. He advanced to second on a single by Will Gasparino before a two-out walk drawn by Hogart loaded the bases. With two outs and the bases loaded, Beltran worked another two-out walk to cut the deficit to one run. Dunedin tacked on two more runs with two outs in the top of the seventh, giving them a three-run advantage into the stretch.
The Threshers had their best chance of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, when the first three batters all reached on walks to load the bases before the first out. Beltran hit into a fielder’s choice, but the eighth inning ended at the same score. Cade Climie doubled in the ninth, but the Threshers dropped their second straight in a 7-4 defeat to Dunedin.
Yordanis Guerra surrendered two runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 3.0 innings of a no-decision. Jacob Pruitt (3-2) allowed three runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout in 3.0 innings to take the loss. Tyler Bowen gave up two runs on two hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Richie Cortese retired all three batters he faced with one strikeout in a scoreless and hitless ninth inning.
Beltran became the fourth Thresher in the 2026 season to reach 50 RBIs...Cortese threw 1.0 scoreless frame for the first time since May 13 after coming off the IL...Guerra has struck out 11 batters in his two starts at BayCare Ballpark...Gasparino is 8-20 over his current five-game hit streak...Pruitt pitched 3.0 full innings for the second time as a pro...The Threshers will continue a seven-game home series against the Dunedin Blue Jays on Friday, August 21...First pitch on Friday evening will take place at 6:30 pm...You can purchase Threshers tickets at ThreshersBaseball.com/tickets or by calling 727-467-4457…The BayCare Ballpark Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 10 am – 5 pm...The box office will be open on Saturdays from 10 am - 3 pm...Visit our website at threshersbaseball.com for information on tickets and promotions for the Threshers season.