PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers rode a five-run first to a 7-1 victory in game one, but dropped a 5-2 decision in the nightcap to split the twin bill with the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Saturday evening.

Clearwater (34-26) split the season series down the middle with Charlotte (31-31), and sits 4.5 games back of the Tampa Yankees with eight games left to play in the first half.

Clearwater made an early statement against Chris Pike (2-6) in game one, pounding out five runs in the opening half inning.

Carlos Tocci and Andrew Pullin got it going by rapping back-to-back doubles to take a quick 1-0 lead. A wild pitch followed by an error on the throw from catcher Armando Araiza allowed Pullin to score to make it 2-0.

With one down, Kyle Martin walked, and Zach Green reached on an error on shortstop Andrew Velazquez. Mitch Walding's bloop base hit to right loaded the bases, and Malquin Canelo increased the advantage to three with a sacrifice fly to score Martin.

Chace Numata then walked to reload the bases, and Cord Sandberg sent a single to center to score two more runs and put the Threshers ahead by a comfortable 5-0 margin.

Thomas Eshelman kept the Stone Crabs off balance through six innings, collecting eight strikeouts and keeping Charlotte off the board until the sixth when Velazquez pulled a solo homer to right.

Eshelman (4-2) would permit only one run on five hits and did not allow a walk across his six strong frames. The righty has dominated in both games against Charlotte this year, allowing only one run across 13 innings in his two starts.

Following a 28 minute rain delay in the third inning, Clearwater increased its lead with a Tocci sacrifice fly, his 21st RBI of the season. The Threshers final run came in the seventh, when Martin raked a double to right and later scored on Walding's sacrifice fly to put the Threshers ahead 7-1.

Down 1-0 in game two, Walding launched a solo home run to right-center leading off the second inning to get the Threshers on the board. The dinger was Walding's eighth of the season.

Derek Campbell reached on an error with two outs, and Samuel Hiciano drove him home with a deep double to left to bump the Threshers in front, 2-1.

Charlotte had an answer in the bottom half, rallying for a three-spot against John Richy (1-1) to go up 4-2.

Clearwater loaded the bases in the seventh inning, trailing 5-2, thanks to singles by Hiciano and Pullin and a walk to Martin. Charlotte called upon Brian Miller to face Walding, and got a hard grounder to first that ended the ballgame.

The Threshers return home for five games heading into the All-Star Break, beginning with a four-game set against the Bradenton Marauders. The series kicks off on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch, as Elniery Garcia (5-2) toes the rubber against Jonathan Brusker (4-5). Catch the action live on the Threshers Broadcast Network beginning at 12:45 p.m.