TAMPA, Fla. -- Brandon Wagner blasted a walk-off home run and the Tampa Tarpons (7-8) completed their second comeback win of the season, defeating the Clearwater Threshers (3-12), 4-3, on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.Tampa pitchers tallied a season-high 16 strikeouts, including nine by Jonathan Loaisiga . The
TAMPA, Fla. -- Brandon Wagner blasted a walk-off home run and the Tampa Tarpons (7-8) completed their second comeback win of the season, defeating the Clearwater Threshers (3-12), 4-3, on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Tampa pitchers tallied a season-high 16 strikeouts, including nine by Jonathan Loaisiga . The right-hander allowed two earned runs on seven hits, one walk and one hit-batter in five innings, throwing 58 of 87 pitches for strikes in a no-decision.
Clearwater tallied four-straight two-out hits off Loaisiga in the second, including a two-run single by Mickey Moniak, giving the Threshers an early 2-0 lead. Loaisiga bounced back by striking out the side in two of his final three innings, finishing with a new season-high.
McKenzie Mills retired 13 of the first 14 Tarpons he faced before Timmy Robinson clubbed a solo home run to left, cutting the deficit to 2-1 in the fifth.
Mills finished strong, retiring eight of his final nine opponents, completing seven innings for the first time this season. The southpaw tallied a season-high six strikeouts while holding Tampa to one earned run on three hits, throwing 57 of 86 pitches for strikes.
The Tarpons pounced on reliever Felix Paulino when Tim Lynch and Francisco Diaz lined back-to-back doubles to tie the game in the eighth. Later in the frame, Thairo Estrada flared a single into right, scoring Diaz and giving Tampa its first lead of the game.
RHP David Sosebee entered for the save in the ninth and Jose Gomez reached second on an infield single and a throwing error by Wagner. One out later, Arquimedes Gamboa tied the game with a double into right.
Clearwater brought in RHP Blake Quinn (L, 0-1) and Wagner sent a 2-1 pitch well over the wall in right field for the game winner and his fifth homer of the season.
RHP Hobie Harris retired all six batters he faced, striking out four in a pair of perfect relief innings. RHP Matt Frawley worked around an error and a walk while tacking on two punchouts in the eighth. Sosebee (BS, 1)(W, 1-1) added the final strikeout in the ninth.
Isiah Gilliam (1-for-4, SB) singled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Hoy Jun Park (1-for-3, BB, SB) extended his on-base streak to 14 games.
The series continues tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. when RHP Michael King (0-1, 2.25) squares off against RHP Mauricio Llovera (1-0, 0.00). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.
On Salute to Service Members Saturday, all military receive a FREE upper reserved ticket with valid I.D. In addition, Tarpons players will be signing autographs on the concourse from 5:40-6:00 p.m.
