Tampa Yankees Clinch Florida State League Championship
Tampa starter Trenton Lare, a late season addition to the pitching staff, dominated the Stone Crabs offense through five shutout innings. The lefty held them hitless through the first four innings allowing only one base runner on a leadoff walk to start the game. He gave up one hit and struck out six earning the win in the decisive game five. Lare started the season in Class-A short-season Staten Island and quickly moved up the minor league ladder pitching in only 13 games in two stops before his promotion to Tampa. He ended the season with a 5-5 record and a 2.19 ERA between three minor league levels.
The offense got rolling in the fifth inning. Consecutive singles by third baseman Luis Nunez and centerfielder Jack Rye put men on first and third with one out before shortstop Walter Ibarra doubled in a run to put the Yankees up 2-0. Second baseman David Adams then walked to the plate and drove in two runs on a single which would provide the lead that the Yankees would not relinquish. Adams went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs on the night, raising his playoff average to .321. For the season, he batted .281 in 65 games with 17 doubles, six triples, seven home runs and 41 RBIs after his promotion to Tampa. He also earned FSL Player of the Week honors on August 3rd.
Tampa's bullpen held off a late inning rally by the Stone Crabs. Right-hander Hector Noesi came in relief and pitched 2.1 innings giving up two earned runs on four hits while striking out two. Ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte pitched only a third of an inning giving up a hit and struck out one. Righty Noel Castillo earned his second save, pitching an inning and a third while giving up only one hit. In 31 appearances (two starts) with Tampa, he went 3-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 56 strikeouts which ranked fourth on the team.
For more information please call 813-875-7753 or visit www.tybaseball.com.