Top Prospects Power Tarpons to Opening Day Victory, 11-7

TAMPA, Fla. – Led by an offensive onslaught from the top of the order, the Tampa Tarpons (1-0) overpowered the Dunedin Blue Jays (0-1) for an 11-7 Opening Day victory on Tuesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

All ranked among the top 30 prospects in the Yankees system by MLB Pipeline, Austin Wells (#6), Anthony Volpe (#11), Trevor Hauver (#23) and Jake Sanford (#29) combined to go 11-for-17 with six extra-base hits, 10 RBI, seven walks and nine runs scored.

Volpe lined a leadoff double down the right field line in the bottom of the first and later scored on a base hit into center by Sanford, giving Tampa an early 1-0 lead. Hauver doubled the lead in the third by smashing a leadoff homer into the Outfield Bar in right.

Lost in the fold of the offensive outburst was a scoreless outing by Tampa starter Matt Sauer. The right-hander scattered three walks and one hit while keeping Dunedin off the board for three and one-third innings, tallying six strikeouts along the way. It was Sauer’s first game action back after having Tommy John surgery 2019.

RHP Michael Giacone relieved Sauer with one out in the fourth and surrendered a walk before the Blue Jays rallied to take the lead. Mack Mueller lined a two-out RBI double to right, and PK Morris walked before both scored on a base hit by Addison Barger coupled with a throwing error by Hauver at second.

The Tarpons quickly responded in the home half, with Volpe drawing a walk and scoring on go-ahead two-run blast to right by Wells. The duo each were drafted in the first round by the Yankees in the prior two seasons, with Volpe taken in 2019 (30th overall) and Wells selected in 2020 (28th overall).

Volpe kept the fifth inning alive with a two-out walk before stealing second base and scoring on a double down the right field line by Wells. Hauver followed with his second home run of the night – a two-run blast over the wall in right-center – giving Tampa a 7-3 lead.

RHP Wellington Diaz struck out a pair to complete a scoreless fifth before finding trouble with two outs and a man aboard in the sixth. Addison Barger hit a two-run homer to right and, after a walk by Jhon Solarte, Justin Ammons tied the game with a two-run homer to right-center.

Once again, the Tampa wasted no time retaking the lead. Spencer Henson reached on a hit-by-pitch and, one out later, Pat DeMarco drew a walk. Elijah Dunham then reached on an error, allowing Henson to score. Volpe followed with a two-run triple into the right field corner, giving the Tarpons a 10-7 lead.

Wells and Hauver drew back-to-back two-out walks in the eighth, and Sanford lined his fourth single of the night into center, scoring Wells to pad the lead.

Diaz (W, 1-0) finished his outing with a scoreless seventh and earned the win in relief. RHP Nelvin Correa (SV, 1) struck out a pair while stranding base runners in the eighth and ninth to pick up the save.

Volpe (2-for-3, 3B, 2B, 3BB, 2RBI, 3R, 2SB) reached base safely in five-of-six plate appearances. Sanford (4-for-6, 2RBI, R) tied a career-high with four hits. Hauver (3-for-4, 2HR, 2BB, 3RBI, 2R) and Wells (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2BB, 3RBI, 2R) each homered in their professional debuts.

Game two of the six-game series is slated for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., with RHP Harold Cortijo (0-0, -.--) set to make his Tarpons debut against Blue Jays RHP Yosver Zulueta (0-0, -.--). On Baseball Bingo Wednesday, the first 200 fans through the gates will receive a Baseball Bingo card to play during the game. The first 10 Bingo winners will receive a Tarpons prize.