Pacheco Fans Five in Pitcher’s Duel but Threshers Drop Game One

Threshers Head Home for Game Two After Starting Playoffs with Shutout Loss

(Nathan Ray)

By Josh Sperber

September 8, 2026

WP: J.T. Etheridge (1-0, 0.00) LP: Nestor Cortes (0-1, 9.00) SV: Matthew Tippie (1) BOX SCORE TAMPA, FL – Brad Pacheco threw over 90 pitches and allowed one run in the longest relief outing of his career, but the Clearwater Threshers (74-55, 0-1) fell short in a 2-0 loss to

WP: J.T. Etheridge (1-0, 0.00)

LP: Nestor Cortes (0-1, 9.00)

SV: Matthew Tippie (1)

BOX SCORE

TAMPA, FL – Brad Pacheco threw over 90 pitches and allowed one run in the longest relief outing of his career, but the Clearwater Threshers (74-55, 0-1) fell short in a 2-0 loss to the Tampa Tarpons (78-51, 1-0) in game one of the FSL Division Series on Tuesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Clearwater will continue the postseason at home with game two on Thursday night.

Phillies infield prospect Matthew Ferrara connects on a base hit in a game for the Clearwater Threshers.Nathan Ray

Tampa struck first with a two-out RBI double, plating the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. They added another run on an RBI single by Tarpons center fielder Yostin Peña to double their lead in the bottom of the third, but Victor Cardoza threw out Peña at second trying to stretch his single into a double.

The Threshers had two solid chances in the fifth and eighth innings when their first two batters reached base. Clearwater was unable to push a baserunner past third base as they dropped game one of the postseason 2-0.

Nestor Cortes (0-1) surrendered one run on two hits with one strikeout in 1.0 inning to take the loss. Brad Pacheco allowed one run on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Luis Avila walked one batter in 0.1 inning. Andrew Hoffmann struck out one and walked two in 1.0 scoreless and hitless inning.

Phillies catching prospect Will Vierling smacks a base hit in a game with the Clearwater Threshers.Nathan Ray

Cortes struck out one batter in his first minor league appearance at Steinbrenner Field since April 2017...Ferrara extended his season-ending hit streak to eight straight games...He has four hits in three career playoff games for the Threshers...Pacheco went his longest outing as a reliever in his third-longest outing of 2026...Hoffmann has thrown 2.0 scoreless innings in two rehab outings for Clearwater...The Threshers will continue the Florida State League Division Series at home against the Tampa Tarpons on Thursday, September 10...First pitch on Thursday evening will take place at 6:30 pm...You can purchase Threshers playoff 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.