CLEARWATER, Fla - The Clearwater Threshers have won four straight and eight of their last nine games after squeezing past the Brevard County Manatees, 2-1 in the series opener at Bright House Field.

Carlos Tocci came up with a huge defensive play in the ninth to preserve the lead for the Threshers.

With one out and Clint Coulter at second, George Iskenderian grounded a single up the middle. Tocci charged in, fielded cleanly and fired a strike home to Gabriel Lino just in time to nab Coulter and rob the Manatees of what would have been the tying run.

Elniery Garcia took a no-decision after a season-high seven innings of one-run ball in the start. Garcia has permitted just one run across his 19 innings this season for a 0.47 ERA. The lefty did not permit a walk, and struck out seven Manatees.

The Threshers (11-5) collected the game's first run with two outs in the first inning.

Tocci grounded a single up the middle off starter Brandon Woodruff, and Kyle Martin followed by dropping a single to right. Mitch Walding then chopped a base hit up the middle to bring home Tocci, giving the Threshers the 1-0 lead.

Woodruff held Clearwater at bay despite multiple baserunners in four of the first five innings, before Josh Uhen (0-1) retired nine straight Threshers.

That streak was snapped in the eighth, as Uhen hit Zach Green with a pitch to start the inning.

Drew Stankiewicz pinch ran for Green, and Malquin Canelo dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Uhen fielded and threw the ball away, allowing both runners to move into scoring position with nobody out.

Junior Rincon entered in relief, and promptly walked Gabriel Lino to load the bases. After a big strikeout of pinch-hitter Herlis Rodriguez, Scott Kingery worked a full count and drew a bases-loaded walk to push home Stankiewicz with the go-ahead run.

Jesen Therrien (1-1) earned the win in relief, holding the Manatees scoreless through the final two innings.

The Threshers will look for the series win on Star Wars Night, as Clearwater hosts Brevard County (3-13) at 6:15 p.m. Tyler Viza (2-0) takes the hill against Angel Ventura (0-1) for the Manatees. The call can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network starting at 6 p.m.