WP: Zuher Yousuf (3-1, 5.18)
LP: Gerinton Mendez (1-2, 5.79)
JUPITER, FL – Jonathan Hogart and Will Gasparino’s home runs combined for six runs as the Clearwater Threshers (59-40, 19-14) broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth to beat the Jupiter Hammerheads (49-51, 12-22) by a 10-5 margin on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Threshers look to seal the series win when they return on Saturday.
After a scoreless first inning, Macon Winslow led off the second with a base hit to center field. Two pitches later, Hogart launched a two-run home run over the left field wall to give the Threshers an early lead. Matthew Ferrara followed with a walk and advanced to third on a flyout to deep centerfield. Victor Cardoza hit a hard liner to first that bounced out of the glove of Hammerheads first baseman Edgardo De Leon. Ferrara scored from third on the error to bring the Threshers' advantage to three runs.
Jupiter got on the board with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to two runs. A two-run home run with two outs in the fifth inning tied the game at three. Hogart led off the top of the sixth inning by drawing a walk against Hammerheads reliever Gerinton Mendez. Ferrara laid down a perfect bunt single to move Hogart to third, and TJayy Walton walked to load the bases before the first out. After the second out of the sixth, Mark Kolozsvary and Carson DeMartini worked back-to-back bases-loaded walks to give the Threshers a two-run advantage. Three pitches later, Will Gasparino launched a grand slam over the left-centerfield wall to triple the Threshers’ advantage.
Jupiter led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to cut the deficit to five. With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Walton drew a walk before Victor Cardoza smacked a double off the centerfield wall, plating Walton from third for the Threshers’ tenth run of the night. The Hammerheads took one run back with a two-out homer in the seventh to cut the Threshers' lead back down to five runs. The next two innings stayed scoreless, as the Threshers sealed their third win of the series in a 10-5 victory.
Zuher Yousuf (3-1) surrendered three runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 5.0 innings to earn the win. Jacob Pruitt allowed one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout in 1.0 inning. Brian Walters gave up one run on two hits with one strikeout in 2.0 innings. Tegan Cain struck out the side in the ninth inning.
Yousuf went 5.0 innings for the sixth time in his career and the second time in 2026...Winslow reached base safely in each of his first two plate appearances as a pro...Gasparino hit a grand slam for his first hit as a pro...Espinosa pinch-hit for DeMartini in the eighth...Clearwater has scored ten runs or more in all three of their wins during this series...The Threshers will continue a six-game road series against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Saturday, August 1...First pitch on Saturday evening will take place at 6:00 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.