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Hardman, Jasso, & Morales power Tarpons to comeback victory

Tommy Kahnle was spotless in his first rehab assignment with Tampa on Wednesday night. (Mark LoMoglio)
By Jake Berend
May 8, 2024

TAMPA, Fla. - After splitting a Tuesday doubleheader, the Tampa Tarpons (10-20) took the third game of the series behind a big night from the offense, coming all the way back from a four-run deficit to win, 9-8. DH Tyler Hardman, 1B Dylan Jasso, and RF Coby Morales combined for

TAMPA, Fla. - After splitting a Tuesday doubleheader, the Tampa Tarpons (10-20) took the third game of the series behind a big night from the offense, coming all the way back from a four-run deficit to win, 9-8. DH Tyler Hardman, 1B Dylan Jasso, and RF Coby Morales combined for nine of Tampa’s 15 hits while combining for six RBI. Hardman had a productive night, driving in four runs while collecting three hits. His biggest knock came in the fifth inning when he blasted a mammoth two-run homer to left field.

RHP Tommy Kahnle (1.0IP, 2K) made his first rehab start (right shoulder inflammation) on his road back to the Bronx. Kahnle threw twelve pitches, nine for strikes. He threw six changeups and recorded three swings and misses on the pitch. The spin on his signature pitch, the changeup, stood right around last year’s, averaging 1451 RPM on the night.

Hardman picked up the first hit of the game, sending a double over Tjayy Walton’s head in center field. Jasso then immediately laced a 105.1 MPH single to left field, scoring Hardman for the first run of the game.

Nikau Pouaka-Grego pinned a one-out double into the left field corner in the third. Dakota Kotowski lined a single to center, Pouaka-Grego rounded third, and CF Willy Montero threw a laser home, but Pouaka-Grego avoided the tag to tie the game at one. Clearwater didn’t stop there, as Aidan Miller peppered another double into the left field corner, plating Kotowski and giving Clearwater the lead.

After two quick outs in the fifth, Kotowski reached second base on a fielding error. The lineup turned over for Kehden Hettiger, who knocked in Kotowski with a single. Miller provided the big blow, sending a two-run homer to left-center field, giving the Threshers a four-run lead.

The rehab duo of SS Oswald Peraza and Hardman powered the Tarpons in the fifth. Peraza worked a leadoff walk, and Hardman unloaded on an inside sinker. Hardman’s first home run of his rehab assignment traveled 443 feet and left the bat at 112.2 MPH.

Clearwater tacked on another run in the sixth. Jordan Viars doubled to start the frame, moved to third on a groundout, and crossed the plate on a SAC-fly from Jared Thomas.

C Tomas Frick doubled to right center field to start the sixth. Ball four to 2B/SS Roderick Arias went to the backstop, allowing Frick to move up to third base. Arias stole second base, and Hardman came through again. He roped a two-run single to right field, bringing Tampa within one.

Pouaka-Grego reached on an error to open the seventh. Kotowski drew a free pass, and both runners advanced on a balk. With runners on the corners and the infield in, Hettinger hit a grounder to 2B Dayro Perez. Perez came home with the ball, getting Pouaka-Grego at the plate. With runners still at the corners after the fielder’s choice, Miller singled to left field, growing Clearwater’s lead to two.

Tampa’s offense erupted for four runs in their half of the seventh. Singles from Jasso and W. Montero, and a walk to 3B Hans Montero loaded the bases for the Tarpons. Morales brought Tampa back to within one with an RBI single to right field. Frick had the big knock, putting Tampa ahead. He smacked a ground-rule double over the right field wall. The Tarpons did not stop there; Arias dunked in the fifth hit of the inning, a single to left to bring home Morales.

Down two runs in the eighth, Devin Saltiban worked a walk and then went first to third on a single from Jared Thomas. Raylin Heredia brought Clearwater back to within one, hitting a SAC-fly to right field.

After two quick outs to start the ninth, Miller doubled to put the tying run in scoring position. RHP Ocean Gabonia (S, 1) came up clutch for Tampa, striking out Avery Owusu-Asiedu on nine pitches to end the game and send Tampa home victorious.

The Tarpons will host the Threshers for game four of the six-game set tomorrow with LHP Allen Facundo on the bump. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., with all the tacos you can eat available for Taco ‘Bout Thursday at GMS Field.