Ninth-Inning Comeback Stalls as Threshers Season Ends in Defeat

Gasparino’s Two-Run Triple Gave Threshers Brief Lead, but Tarpons Take Series

Phillies fifth-rounder Will Gasparino waits on a pitch during the first round of the FSL playoffs. (Natalia Cichosz)

By Josh Sperber

September 10, 2026

WP: Pedro Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00) LP: Richie Cortese (0-1, 10.80) BOX SCORE CLEARWATER, FL – Will Gasparino’s first career triple gave the Clearwater Threshers (74-55, 0-2) a brief lead in the sixth, but the Tampa Tarpons (78-51, 2-0) took back the lead late in a 7-5 victory to eliminate Clearwater

WP: Pedro Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00)

LP: Richie Cortese (0-1, 10.80)

BOX SCORE

CLEARWATER, FL – Will Gasparino’s first career triple gave the Clearwater Threshers (74-55, 0-2) a brief lead in the sixth, but the Tampa Tarpons (78-51, 2-0) took back the lead late in a 7-5 victory to eliminate Clearwater from the playoffs on Thursday night at BayCare Ballpark. The 2026 season has concluded, and the Threshers will begin the 2027 series in April at home against the Tarpons.

After three scoreless and hitless innings to start the game, the Tarpons took the lead on a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning. Matthew Ferrara cut the Tarpons’ lead in half with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth inning, when a two-out rally began after Nolan Beltran was hit by a pitch. He advanced to second when Jonathan Hogart drew a walk. Both scored on a triple by Gasparino that gave Clearwater their first lead of the night.

Phillies ninth-rounder Matthew Ferrara rounds the bases after hitting a home run for the Clearwater Threshers.Natalia Cichosz

Tampa tied the game at three on a two-out double in the eighth inning. They took the lead after the next batter, Wilberson De Peña, smacked a two-run home run to give Tampa a two-run lead. The Tarpons added two more runs in the ninth inning to take a four-run advantage into the final frame. Gasparino led off the bottom of the ninth with a base hit, advancing to third on a walk by Macon Winslow. After Winslow was replaced by Victor Cardoza as a pinch runner, Will Vierling plated Gasparino with a single to cut the deficit to three runs. After the first two outs of the inning, Reece Moroney delivered an RBI single to put the Threshers within two runs. But with the go-ahead run at the plate, the Threshers couldn’t complete the comeback, finishing their season with a 7-5 loss to the Tarpons.

Phillies tenth-rounder Cole Gilley fires in a strike during a career-long 6.0-inning start for the Clearwater Threshers.Stephanie Sears

Cole Gilley surrendered two runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 6.0 innings of a no-decision. Richie Cortese (BS, 0-1) allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work, earning a loss and a blown save. Orlando Gonzalez walked one batter with three runs allowed on two hits in 0.1 inning. Kyler Carmack finished the final frame with one hit allowed and no earned runs in 1.0 inning.

Neither team picked up a hit or a run in the first three innings...Ferrara’s homer was the first playoff home run for the Threshers since Aidan Miller in 2023...Gasparino’s RBI triple was the first of his professional career...Gilley worked into the sixth inning in a start for the first time in his pro career...Hogart reached base safely in each of the final 18 games of the Threshers season and playoffs dating back to August 12...You can purchase Phillies Spring Training 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.