CLEARWATER, Fla. - Thomas Eshelman sailed through seven strong innings in the start as the Clearwater Threshers earned the series-opening win, 4-1 over the Daytona Tortugas on Tuesday night.

Eshelman (1-1) limited the Tortugas to just one run on two hits while striking out a career-high nine batters in earning his first victory of the season.

After Blake Butler and Chad Tromp knocked back-to-back doubles to open the third inning, Eshelman was untouchable the rest of the way. The 21-year old right-hander retired the final 15 batters he faced in order.

Down 1-0, Zach Green pulled the teams even in the fourth. With two outs, he jumped on the first offering from Keury Mella (0-3) and lined a shot over the wall in left for his third home run of the season.

Two innings later, it was Green who crossed the plate again, this time giving the Threshers the lead.

Following Green's walk, Chace Numata clanked a single off the wall in right to put runners at the corners with two outs. A passed ball bled behind the catcher Tromp and Green took off for the plate, slipping in under the tag of Mella covering to put the Threshers up by a run.

Clearwater (8-5) tacked on another unearned run in the seventh facing reliever Ismael Guillon. Scott Kingery walked to start the inning and stood at second after an errant pickoff attempt by Guillon. Two outs later, Kyle Martin pulled a soft liner to right to plate Kingery and make it 3-1 Clearwater.

Herlis Rodriguez brought the final run across in the eighth, delivering a two-out single to score Numata. All four of the Threshers runs came across with two outs on Tuesday.

Jesen Therrien entered in relief of Eshelman and breezed by Daytona in the eighth, striking out all three men he faced. After inducing a swinging strikeout of Jonathan Reynoso to open the ninth, Blake Trahan singled to give Daytona (5-8) its first baserunner since the third inning.

A fielder's choice and an error on Mitch Walding at third put two men in scoring position with two out, but Therrien got Angelo Gumbs to bounce out to shortstop to end the ballgame, notching his first save.

Clearwater will go for the series win on Wednesday, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. Matt Imhof (0-1) toes the rubber for the Threshers opposite Wyatt Strahan (0-0) for Daytona. The call can be heard live on the Threshers Broadcast Network beginning at 11:45 a.m.