TAMPA, Fla. — J.T. Etheridge turned in a dominant postseason debut, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings to lead the Tampa Tarpons to a 2-0 victory over the Clearwater Threshers in Game One of the Florida State League West Divisional Series.
Fresh off being named FSL Pitcher of the Week, Etheridge allowed just one hit while striking out seven as Tampa’s pitching staff held Clearwater scoreless to take a 1-0 series lead.
The Tarpons immediately set the tone in the bottom of the first. Facing a rehabbing Nestor Cortes, Yostin Peña lined a single before Paul Contreras followed with a double off the top of the right-field wall, bringing Peña home to give Tampa an early 1-0 lead.
Tampa added to its advantage in the third. Luis Escudero led off the inning with a double down the right-field line before Peña delivered again, ripping a broken-bat RBI single into left field to extend the Tarpons’ lead to 2-0.
From there, the pitching staff took over.
After Etheridge exited following five scoreless frames, the Tarpons’ bullpen kept Clearwater off the scoreboard. Jose Ledesma worked out of trouble in the eighth after the Threshers put runners on first and second with nobody out. Ledesma induced a double-play ball to escape the jam and preserve the two-run lead.
Manager Zach Wasserman then turned to Matthew Tippie for the final four outs, and the right-hander delivered. Tippie retired all four batters he faced, securing the save and sealing Tampa’s Game One victory.
The Tarpons will now travel to Clearwater for the remainder of the series. Game Two is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at BayCare Ballpark, with Game Three, if necessary, to follow.