Tampa Suffers Setback as Lakeland Sweeps Doubleheader
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons dropped both ends of a doubleheader, 7-1 in Game One and 6-1 in Game Two, to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, falling further behind first place in the second-half Florida State League North Division Standings on Friday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.The critical five-game
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons dropped both ends of a doubleheader, 7-1 in Game One and 6-1 in Game Two, to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, falling further behind first place in the second-half Florida State League North Division Standings on Friday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The critical five-game series began with both Tampa (32-30, 60-68) and Lakeland (34-29, 63-65) trailing first-place Dunedin by 1.0GB and 1.5GB, respectively, with 12 games remaining in the regular season. The Tarpons now sit in third place, 2.0GB of the Blue Jays and 1.5GB of the Flying Tigers, with 10 games left, including six more against Lakeland.
RHP
Tampa was held scoreless by RHP
Otto retired eight-straight hitters before
RHP
Rodriguez (W, 11-8) retired 12-straight to finish his first-career complete game, yielding one earned run on three hits in seven innings, walking two while striking out five on 87 pitches (61 strikes). Otto (L, 2-3) allowed a career-high seven earned runs on six hits in four and a third innings, walking four while striking out two on 83 pitches (47 strikes).
Deatherage began Game Two with a leadoff walk against RHP
Vizcaíno induced a double-play of his own before stranding a pair of infield singles in a scoreless second, but the Flying Tigers rallied to take the lead for good in the third. Three-straight one-out singles by Deatherage, Simcox and Policelli tied the game before Simcox scored on a go-ahead double by Bojarski.
Tobey pitched through the third and retired the final eight batters he faced, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out one and walking none on 40 pitches (23 strikes).
Tampa brought the tying run to the plate when Palma and Gasper both singled with one out in the fourth, but LHP
Vizcaíno bounced back with a scoreless fourth but left after walking Hampton with one out in the fifth. LHP
Severino picked up a strikeout while working around a two-out walk in a scorless sixth. Manager Aaron Holbert turned to Gasper to pitch the seventh in order to conserve relief pitchers. Gasper walked three batters, but stranded the base loaded in a scoreless frame.
RHP
Vizcaíno (L, 1-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits in four and a third innings, walking four while striking out six on 104 pitches (57 strikes).
Cabrera (4-for-6, R) singled twice in both ends of the doubleheader and now has multiple hits in six of his last 10 games, batting .421 (16-for-38) in that span. Palma (2-for-5, 2B, Sac-F, RBI) drove in both runs and now has 21 RBI in 25 games since rejoining Tampa.
The series continues on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on Baseball in Tampa Night. RHP
On Strikeout Saturday, strikeouts by Tampa pitchers will determine the special of the day. When a Tarpons pitcher strikes out a batter, a select special will be activated for the night (each special lasts 60 minutes). In addition, fans can collect player autographs on the concourse from 5:40-6:00 p.m.