Lakeland Wins Twice, Completes Sweep of Tampa
Lakeland, FL. - The Lakeland Flying Tigers (27-34) completed a sweep of the Tampa Yankees (26-35) on Sunday afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium. Lakeland took a 3-1 win in game one and a 2-1 win in game two.
Michael Pineda made the start in game one as part of a rehab assignment. The right-hander threw 68 pitches in four and a third innings. Pineda allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out four and walking one.
Tampa took the first lead in game one when Ben Gamel connected on his first home run of the season. Gamel sent it off of the scoreboard in right to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.
The Flying Tigers took a 2-1 lead soon after Pineda exited the game. Rigoberto Arrebato inherited a runner on first with one out in the fifth. After striking out Brandon Loy, Chad Wright reached on an error by Rob Refsnyder at second. Harold Castro followed with a two-RBI single.
Lakeland added insurance in the sixth. Jeff McVaney and Jason Krizan singled to leadoff the inning. One out later, McVaney scored on an RBI single by Luis Sanz.
Flying Tigers' starter Wilsen Palacios (3-4) allowed one run on seven hits in six and a third innings pitched. The right-hander walked one and struck out eight in the win. Reliever Melvin Mercedes finished off the seventh to earn his 11th save.
The Yankees took an early 1-0 lead in game two. After reaching on a walk, Angelo Gumbs stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw by Lakeland catcher John Murrian. Gumbs scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Casey Stevenson.
Murrian redeemed himself in third when he sent a solo home run to left to tie the game, 1-1. One out later, Chad Wright reached on a walk and stole second. Wright later scored on an RBI double by Francisco Martinez.
Lakeland starter Jeff Ferrell (3-4) allowed one unearned run on one hit through five innings. He walked two and struck out two in the win.
Tampa had its best chance to score in the seventh. Refsnyder reached on a leadoff double off of Lakeland reliever Alex Burgos. One out later, Dan Fiorito reached on an error by Martinez at third. Carmen Angelini pinch hit for Saxon Butler and grounded into a fielder's choice as Martinez retired Refsnyder with a throw to the plate. An infield single by Jose Toussen loaded the bases before Eduardo Sosa flew out to end the game.
Burgos picked up his first save of the season after allowing two hits in two shutout innings.
RHP Bryan Mitchell (3-6) got the start for the Yankees took the loss. Mitchell allowed two runs on five hits in five innings pitched while walking three and striking out four.
The Yankees travel to Port Charlotte on Monday to begin a four-game series with the Charlotte Stone Crabs in the final series before the all-star break. The T-Yanks return home on June 18th when they host the Dunedin Blue Jays in game two of a commuter series.