Late Comeback Falls Short in 7-6 Loss

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Tarpons (20-21, 55-56) came from behind after trailing by five runs, but left the bases loaded twice as the comeback fell short in a 7-6 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers (22-17, 58-54) in front of crowd of 2,035 on Saturday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
It took 30 pitches for RHP Nick Nelson to strand a pair of walks in the opening inning. After retiring the side in order in the second, Nelson need 30 more pitches to get through the third.
After a leadoff double by Derek Hill, Nelson struck out the next two batters. Dylan Burdeaux walked and a double-steal put both runners in scoring position. Kade Scivicque capitalized, lining a two-run single into right.
A.J. Simcox hit a leadoff triple in the fourth and RHP Braden Bristo made his Tampa debut, relieving Nelson. One out later, Simcox scored on a base hit by Hill. Luke Burch followed with a single and a double-steal advanced the runners before a passed ball by catcher Donny Sands allowed Hill to score, giving Lakeland a 4-0 lead.
Nelson (L, 5-4) allowed three earned runs on four hits in three innings, walking three while striking out five on 80 pitches (50 strikes).
After walking a pair in the fifth, RHP Kyle Zurak entered with two outs and allowed an infield hit by Cole Peterson before stranding the bases loaded. Burch walked to open the sixth and stole second before scoring on a double by Danny Pinero for a 5-0 lead.
Double play groundouts in the first and second innings helped LHP Gregory Soto face the minimum through the fourth. Sands walked and Angel Aguilar singled in the fifth, but Soto stranded both.
Matt McGarry looped a leadoff double down the right field line begin the bottom of the sixth. A walk by Estevan Florial and a single by Diego Castillo loaded the bases with no outs. Soto then walked Dom Thompson-Williams , forcing home McGarry. One out later, Kellin Deglan lined a two-run single to center.
RHP Burris Warner (H, 3) relieved Soto and Hoy Jun Park walked, reloading the bases. Aguilar followed with an RBI single, but Warner got a pop out by Ben Ruta and a fly out by McGarry to leave the bases loaded, preserving a 5-4 lead for Lakeland.
Soto (W, 6-5) allowed four earned runs on five hits in five and a third, walking four while striking out five on 77 pitches (45 strikes).
Jose Azocar reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a base hit by Simcox in the seventh before scoring on a single by Peterson for a 6-4 lead.
Thompson-Williams hit a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh and advanced on a wild pitch. Warner then intentionally walked Isiah Gilliam on a 3-1 count before RHP Eduardo Jiménez (H, 3) entered. Jimenez walked both Deglan and Park to force home a run, but got Aguilar to fly out to leave the bases loaded and hold a 6-5 lead.
After a quick 1-2-3 eighth pitched by RHP Kaleb Ort , Ruta hit a leadoff single to put the tying run on base in the home half. Ruta moved up on a sacrifice bunt by McGarry, but was later caught trying to steal third. Florial then walked, but was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.
An error by Aguilar and third base allowed Azocar to reach with one out in the ninth and, after a walk by Simcox, Lakeland converted on its third double-steal of the game. Peterson followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Azocar for an insurance run.
Gilliam extended the game in the bottom of the ninth with a two-out hit and moved up on a wild pitch before scoring on a double to the wall in left by Deglan, but RHP Drew Carlton (SV, 8) entered and struck out Park on three pitches to end the game.
At three hours and 23 minutes, it was the longest game of the season for the Tarpons. Lakeland pitchers walked nine batters while Tampa pitches allowed eight walks. The Flying Tigers tallied eight stolen bases.
Gilliam (1-for-4, BB, R) snapped a streak of six-straight strikeouts and extended his hitting streak to six games. Deglan (2-for-2, 2B, BB, 3RBI) entered for Sands (0-for-0 2BB) in the sixth and reached base in every place appearance. Florial (1-for-3, 2BB, R, CS) also reached base three times.
The series wraps up on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. RHP Nick Green (6-4, 3.16) is scheduled to face the first overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, RHP Casey Mize (0-0, 0.00). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.
On "Kids Funday Sunday," kids ages 14-and-under can enjoy half-off kids meals and run the bases after the game.