TAMPA, Fla. - After losing an early one-run lead, the Tampa Yankees (2-1, 41-32) scored a pair of late-inning runs to defeat the Dunedin Blue Jays (1-2, 35-37), 3-1, on Saturday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Four Tampa pitchers combined to strike out 15 Dunedin batters.Tampa players and coaches
TAMPA, Fla. - After losing an early one-run lead, the Tampa Yankees (2-1, 41-32) scored a pair of late-inning runs to defeat the Dunedin Blue Jays (1-2, 35-37), 3-1, on Saturday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Four Tampa pitchers combined to strike out 15 Dunedin batters.
Tampa players and coaches donned "Rockford Peach" style jersey to pay tribute to the 25th anniversary of the film "A League of Their Own." Prior to the Florida State League matchup, fans witnessed an amateur Women's Baseball game between the New England Women Red Sox and the East Coast Yankees.
Jorge Mateo got the scoring underway in main event, blasting a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first off Dunedin starter Conor Fisk. Gosuke Katoh followed with a four-pitch walk and, two outs later, Kyle Holder singled before Fisk escaped further damage.
Erik Swanson was activated off the disabled list prior to the game to make his first start since June 6th. The right-hander retired the first seven batters he faced before Josh Almonte singled in the third. Swanson picked off the runner and completed the frame with his fifth strikeout to end his outing after facing the minimum in three scoreless innings, throwing 32 of 44 pitches for strikes.
Jose Mesa Jr. entered in the fourth and stranded the bases loaded after allowing a pair of singles and a walk. The reliever bounced back with a perfect fifth before allowing a game-tying home run by Cavan Biggio in the sixth. Mesa struck out three in three innings on the mound.
Fisk kept the Yankees off the board for the rest of his five and two-third innings of work. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits, walking three while striking out four and throwing 57 of 89 pitches for strikes.
Tampa grabbed the lead off RHP Tom Robson (L, 1-3) in the seventh. Sharif Othman reached on a strikeout/wild pitch to begin the frame. A second wild pitch by Robson moved Othman to second before Mateo legged out an infield single, placing runners on the corners.
Dunedin turned the ball over to LHP Kirby Snead and Katoh bounced one down the first base line. The Blue Jays tried to turn a 3-6-3 double play, but Katoh beat the play at first as Othman scored the go-ahead run.
Insurance was provided in the eighth against RHP Adonys Cardona. Nick Solak lined a leadoff single up the middle and advanced on an errant pickoff attempt by Cardona. Two outs later, Jhalan Jackson grounded an RBI single into center, giving the Yankees a two run cushion.
RHP Jose Pena (W, 1-1) held the Blue Jays to a walk and a hit-batter over two scoreless relief innings, striking out four while earning the win. RHP Jordan Foley (SV, 1) walked the first two batters he faced in the ninth before striking out the side to earn his first save of the season.
Mateo (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R) tallied his fourth home run of the season as part of his 14th multi-hit game. The 22-year-old is now on a seven-game hitting streak.
Postgame fireworks blasted off after the game and fans stuck around to watch "A League of Their Own" on the video board. The custom jersey were auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting the Women's Sports Museum.
The series concludes on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. when RHP Taylor Widener (4-6, 3.94 ERA) squares off against LHP Angel Perdomo (5-4, 2.90 ERA). On "Kids Funday Sunday," kids ages 14-and-under can enjoy half-priced kids' meals and run the bases after the game. For tickets and more information, call (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tybaseball.com.
