Clearwater Thresher starter Jonathan Pettibone spearheaded a 5-0 shutout victory over the Fort Myers Miracle Thursday night in the first game of a four-game series at Hammond Stadium.

Combined with the St. Lucie Mets’ win over Dunedin, the loss drops the Miracle (27-21) into a first-place tie with the Mets in the Florida State League South Division standings.

Clearwater gained a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning off Miracle reliever Matt Tone. Thresher second baseman Cesar Hernandez singled to left and Troy Hanzawa laid down a sacrifice bunt. Hernandez took third base on a groundout to the right side ahead of Leandro Castro’s hot shot to center field to drive in Hernandez.

The Threshers added another run in the eighth when Joe Savery sent a high fly ball over left fielder Ramon Santana with runners at second and third. D’Arby Myers, a pinch-runner, scored easily, but catcher Sebastian Valle was gunned down on a relay throw by shortstop Brian Dozier.

Three insurance runs in the top of the ninth came on Hanzawa’s homer off Tone and D’Arby Myers’ two-run shot off reliever Brad Tippett.

Edgar Ibarra started for the Miracle and dueled with Pettibone. Ibarra went 5 2/3 scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out three. Pettibone shut down the Miracle order with seven shutout innings, giving up only two hits, walking a pair and striking out six.

Tone (1-1) took the loss after throwing 2 2/3 innings and allowing three runts on six hits.

The Miracle host the Threshers (30-18) in game two Friday night.