Tarnok Tremendous in Tough Loss to Tampa, 3-1

KISSIMMEE, FLA.: RHP Freddy Tarnok tossed another gem and Jordan Rodgers went yard, but the Tampa Tarpons plated two runs in the eleventh to top the Florida Fire Frogs, 3-1, and sweep the three-game series on Thursday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium.

Tarnok dismantled the Tarpons lineup all afternoon, surrendering just six hits and an earned run over seven strong innings. He piled up eight strikeouts which tied his career-high, equaling the mark he set on August 4 at Jupiter. He threw 102 pitches, 68 of which were for strikes and set down the last five he faced while not factoring in the decision.
The only tally Tarnok would allow was in the fourth. Diego Castillo stroked an RBI single two batters after Oswaldo Cabrera doubled to advance his on-base streak to 19 games and put Tampa on the board first, 1-0.
RHP Alex Camacho twirled an excellent outing behind Tarnok. He fired two scoreless stanzas and fanned three, permitting a double to Pablo Olivares in the eighth but nothing further.
Rodgers evened the contest by smacking a solo homer in the fifth inning, his fifth long ball of the season, off RHP Frank German to make it 1-1.
German tied his career-high strikeout total with eight across five frames of one-run, two-hit baseball and not receiving a decision.
RHP Aaron McGarrity worked around a couple hits over the next 2 and 2/3's behind German, mixing in five strikeouts in the process.
The Fire Frogs were held to four hits by the Tarpons staff, but they did draw seven walks. Drew Lugbauer and Andy Wilkins were issued multiple free passes. Jefrey Ramos singled and reached base twice to push his hitting streak to four. He has hits in ten of his last eleven assignments.
Florida missed a golden opportunity to walk-off with the win versus RHP Kyle Zurak in the ninth. He walked three batters to bring up Rodgers with one out. He smoked a liner right at third baseman Wilkerman Garcia, who was able to make the catch and tap third to complete the double play and force the game into extras.
RHP Sean McLaughlin left Tampa's placed runner at third in the top of the tenth to keep the Tarpons off the board. Pinch-runner Brett Langhorne achieved third in the bottom of the inning with one down but Zurak worked out of trouble to keep the game going.
Olivares was placed on second to start the eleventh. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Garcia single to give the Tarpons the lead. Garcia stole second and came around on a knock from Cabrera to bump the lead to 3-1.
Cabrera swatted 3-5 at the dish with an RBI and a run.
McLaughlin (2-5) was saddled with the loss, allowing two hits, an earned run, and punching out two Tarpons over six outs.
Zurak (6-4) walked four batters but didn't yield a hit or a run in 2 and 1/3's stanzas. RHP Matt Wivinis faced the minimum in the eleventh to pick up his eighth save with the Tarpons and second in the series.   
NEXT UP: Florida will begin its final home series in Kissimmee against the visiting Dunedin Blue Jays Friday evening at 6 p.m. RHP Matt Hartman (3-6, 4.31) toes the slab opposite RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (2-2, 3.68).
Fans can purchase tickets for $2 to enjoy $3 draft beer, Cuban sandwiches with a choice of beer or soda for $10, and discounted prices on Fire Frogs flashy merchandise.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW: https://www.milb.com/florida/tickets/single-game-tickets
About the Florida Fire Frogs
The Florida Fire Frogs are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and compete in the Florida State League. The Fire Frogs play their home games at Osceola County Stadium, located at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. For more information, please visit www.FloridaFireFrogs.com, and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.