Jonathan Hogart homered on the first pitch of the game, but the Clearwater Threshers lost 6-1 to the Tampa Tarpons on Wednesday night at BayCare Ballpark.
Hogart sent a solo home run into the left-field bullpen on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning, giving the Clearwater Threshers a 1-0 lead. It marked the second time in 2026 that the Clearwater Threshers homered on the first pitch of the first inning.
The Tampa Tarpons scored once in the second and third innings to take the lead. Tampa then hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning and another two-run home run in the sixth, while neither team scored over the final three innings.
Brad Pacheco took the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out four. Giussepe Velásquez allowed two runs on three hits, with one walk and three strikeouts, in two innings.
Tyler Bowen retired all three batters he faced in the eighth inning, and Wilmer Blanco pitched a scoreless ninth without allowing a run or a hit. Greysen Carter earned the win to improve to 5-0 with a 3.86 ERA.
The Clearwater Threshers finished with five hits, including two bunt singles. Clearwater entered the game with a 61-41 overall record and a 21-15 record in the relevant split, while the Tampa Tarpons entered at 60-43 overall and 25-12 in the split.
Clearwater has scored its only run on a solo home run in two of its 20 games against the Tampa Tarpons this season. The Clearwater Threshers were scheduled to continue their six-game home series against the Tampa Tarpons on Thursday, August 6, at BayCare Ballpark. First pitch was scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Source: Original report