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A Complete Game and a Walk-off for the 10th Consecutive Win

Brian Keller threw a 2-hit complete game. (Mark LoMoglio)
July 28, 2017

Tampa, Fla. - It was a Pitcher's Duel Friday night under the lights at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The Tampa Yankees (23-11, 62-42) overcame the Palm Beach Cardinals (16-18, 56-45) 1-0 on a walk-off double late in the Bottom of the 9th to edge out a victory and keep their

Tampa, Fla. - It was a Pitcher's Duel Friday night under the lights at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The Tampa Yankees (23-11, 62-42) overcame the Palm Beach Cardinals (16-18, 56-45) 1-0 on a walk-off double late in the Bottom of the 9th to edge out a victory and keep their winning streak alive (10).
RHP Brian Keller (W, 2-2) returned to Tampa locked in for his sixth start, with the organization, after earning his first win in Fort Myers. The lengthy RHP was in control of the Cards all night as he tossed a 2-Hit Complete Game Shutout. Keller retired eight at the plate, faced the minimum number of batters per inning seven times, walked one and did not allow a hit after the second inning.
The Palm Beach Cardinals Starting Pitcher, RHP Jordan Hicks (0-1), challenged the Yankees early as he only gave up four hits, one walk, and six strike outs in 5.0 scoreless innings. The Cardinals held the Yankees down late with RHP Dailyn Martinez. Martinez followed Hicks performance with a similar outing; recording five strikeouts, allowing one free pass and three hits.
Cardinals Relief Pitcher Hector Mendoza (L, 0-3) allowed a walk to T-Yanks Right Fielder Austin Aune after recording the first out on a fly ball to left field. With the score still knotted up at zero, in the Bottom of the 9th with one out, Catcher Sharif Othman caught up with an inside fastball and ripped a hard groundball down the first base line for a double. The ball rolled along the wall, allowing time for Aune to round the final three bases and score the winning run.
Center Fielder Trey Amburgey also went 2-4 with a single and a double in Friday night's contest. Amburgey and Othman were the only Tampa Yankees players with multiple hits in the game.
Up next, the T-Yanks go on the road as RHP Taylor Widener (5-6, 4.03 ERA) and the team look forward to taking on the Daytona Tortugas before moving onto St. Lucie and Tim Tebow's Mets before returning home. Action will return to George M. Steinbrenner Field against the Clearwater Threshers Monday, August 7th at 7:00pm as the Tampa Yankees begin a 7 game home stand for the month of August. For tickets and promotional information, call (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tybaseball.com.