TAMPA, Fla. - The Yankees flirted with a no-hitter and settled for a one-hit shutout, completing a four-game sweep of the Mets with a 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Doing so, Tampa (34-15, 73-46) extended its winning streak to eight games while also securing its
TAMPA, Fla. - The Yankees flirted with a no-hitter and settled for a one-hit shutout, completing a four-game sweep of the Mets with a 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Doing so, Tampa (34-15, 73-46) extended its winning streak to eight games while also securing its 16th-conecutive home triumph.
RHP Taylor Widener faced the minimum over five shutout innings in his 24th start of the season. The only base runner allowed by the 22-year-old was a leadoff walk in the fourth, which would be erased with a caught-stealing. Widener tallied six strikeouts and threw 40 of 60 pitches for strikes before departing due to a pitch-limit.
On National Left-Hander's Day, LHP Stephen Tarpley (W, 6-0) took the baton in the sixth. The 24-year-old worked around a two-out walk in the sixth and struck out a pair over two shutout frames, extending his scoreless innings streak to 30.2IP.
Tampa was not able to score off St. Lucie starter Kevin Canelon. The southpaw scattered two hits, a walk and a hit-batter over four scoreless frames, striking out three while throwing 36 of 51 pitches for strikes.
Angel Aguilar singled to leadoff the sixth against reliever Stephen Nogosek (L, 1-1). A walk by Kyle Holder pushed Aguilar to second, prompting Gosuke Katoh to put down a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Jose Garcia made the play to first, but ventured too far from the plate. Aguilar took notice and sprinted home for a 1-0 Tampa lead.
Trey Amburgey walked and Donny Sands singled, placing runners at first and second with no outs in the seventh. The Mets made a pitching change and Tim Lynch greeted RHP Josh Torres with a base hit, loading the bags. One out later, Sands tagged and scored on a sacrifice fly by Aguilar, giving the Yankees a 2-0 cushion.
RHP David Sosebee (H, 1) made his Tampa debut, entering in relief of Tarpley in the eighth. After a groundout and a strikeout, Michael Paez hit a soft liner into center for the first St. Lucie hit. Sosebee retired the next batter to end the frame.
The Yankees added one more run in the eighth when Katoh hit a one-out double, advanced to third on a wild pick-off throw and scored on a wild pitch.
RHP Joe Harvey (SV, 2) notched a strikeout and closed the game with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Sands (2-for-3, 2B, R) had the lone multi-hit game. Katoh (1-for-2, 2B, Sac-B, RBI, R) and Aguilar (1-for-2, Sac-F, RBI, R) each tallied an RBI. Estevan Florial (0-for-4) snapped a 10-game hitting streak.
Up next, the T-Yanks travel to Kissimmee, FL for a four-game series against the Florida Fire Frogs. RHP Brian Keller (3-2, 2.86 ERA) will make the start against RHP Enderson Franco (3-5, 4.67 ERA) in the opener on Monday at 7:05 p.m.
The Yankees return home to host the Fort Myers Miracle on Friday, August 18th at 7:00 p.m. On Wing Deal Fridays, fans can get all-you-can-eat chicken wings from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. for $10. For more information, call (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tybaseball.com.
