No-Hit till the Sixth, Tampa Erupts Late to Trounce Fort Myers, 16-5

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Tarpons (11-4) did not collect a base hit until the sixth inning, but the offense erupted late, producing crooked numbers in the seventh and eighth in a 16-5 victory over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (7-8) on Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

RHP Randy Vasquez started for Tampa and struggled with command, with a pair of walks, an RBI double and two more walks giving the Mighty Mussels a 2-0 lead. RHP Zach Kohn relieved Vasquez and promptly got a strikeout and a groundout to leave the bases loaded.

Fort Myers starter Steven Cruz also did not escape the first inning. After three walks and a hit-batter began the frame, Cruz fanned the next two batters before Elijah Dunham walked to tie the score at 2-2. RHP Bradley Hanner entered and induced a flyout to end the inning.

In the second, Anthony Volpe reached on a fielding error, stole second and third before scoring on a go-ahead sacrifice-fly by Austin Wells for a 3-2 lead. Juan De Leon walked in the fourth, took second on a wild pitch, third on flyout and scored on sacrifice-fly by Volpe for a 4-2 lead.

After retiring six-of-seven batters faced, Kohn issued three-straight two-out walks in the third. RHP Nelvin Correa entered and struck out Wander Valdez, stranding the bases full. Correa (H, 2) went on to retire nine-of-12 batters faced before leaving with two on and two outs in the sixth. RHP Connor Pellerin took the baton and struck out Aaron Sabato to escape the jam.

Pat DeMarco reached on a strikeout/wild pitch, stole second and third before scoring on a two-out RBI single into center by Jesus Bastidas. The base hit gave the Tarpons a 5-2 lead while also representing Tampa’s first hit of the game.

In the seventh, a pair of walks and a fielder’s choice placed runners on the corners with one out for the Mighty Mussels, and Charles Mack delivered a game-tying three-run homer to left off Pellerin (BS, 1) for a 5-5 tie.

Volpe reached on an error to begin the bottom of the seventh and took third on a ground-rule double by Wells off RHP Denny Bentley (L, 0-1). Both scored on a go-ahead triple by Trevor Hauver, and Andres Chaparro followed with an RBI double down the left field line. Chaparro then stole third before later scoring on a base hit by Pat DeMarco, giving Tampa a 9-5 lead.

RHP Osiris German got a pair of groundouts to end the seventh, but the Tarpons rallied once more in the eighth. After Volpe reached on an error, Wells and Hauver hit back-to-back RBI doubles. A base hit by Chaparro and a walk by Chad Bell loaded the bases before Hauver scored on a groundout by DeMarco for a 12-5 lead.

LHP Zarion Sharpe relieved German and walked Dunham to reload the bases. One out later, Bastidas lined a two-run single into center, and Volpe followed with a two-run double to center, capping a seven-run inning, giving Tampa a 16-5 advantage.

RHP Blane Abeyta (W, 2-1) tallied five strikeouts while stranding two walks and a single over the final two and one-third innings to earn the win in relief.

DeMarco (1-for-5, 2RBI, R, 2SB) now leads the Southeast League with 19RBI, with Hauver (2-for-4, 3B, 2B, 2BB, 3RBI, 2R) one back with 18RBI. Chaparro (2-for-4, 2B, HBP, 2RBI, 2R, SB) doubled for the fourth-straight game and now leads the league with nine doubles.

Wells (3-for-4, 2 2Bs, BB, Sac-F, 2RBI, 3R) logged his first three-hit game. Bastidas (2-for-5, 3RBI, R, CS) tallied his first two hits since joining Tampa. Volpe (1-for-4, 2B, BB, Sac-F, 2RBI, 4R, 3SB) stole a season-high three bases. Bell (0-for-4, BB, R) extended his on-base streak to 14 games.

Game four of the series is slated for Friday at 6:30 p.m., with LHP Edgar Barclay (0-1, 4.70) set to make the start against RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-2, 29.70). On Sink or Swim Fridays, for $20, fans can enjoy all-you-can-drink draft beer and wine until the opponent scores a run.