TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (28-28) tallied 14 hits, but a season-high four errors led to six unearned runs for the Jupiter Hammerheads (24-31) in an 11-5 loss in front of a crowd of 5,147 on "Strike Out Cancer Night" on Saturday evening at George M. Steinbrenner Field.Kyle Barrett
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (28-28) tallied 14 hits, but a season-high four errors led to six unearned runs for the Jupiter Hammerheads (24-31) in an 11-5 loss in front of a crowd of 5,147 on "Strike Out Cancer Night" on Saturday evening at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Kyle Barrett led off the game with a single into center and promptly stole second base. Junior Arrojo followed with an RBI double, giving Jupiter a 1-0 lead in the first.
Tampa tied the score with a double steal in the third. Mandy Alvarez doubled off the left field wall and Jorge Mateo followed with an infield single, placing runners on the corners. With Tito Polo at the plate, Mateo took off for second base. Catcher Roy Morales threw to second and Alvarez broke for the plate, stealing home.
After the double by Arrojo, RHP Taylor Widener did not surrender another hit until a two-out, solo home run by Brad Haynal in the fourth. A pair of walks kept the inning alive and James Reeves entered in relief. Morales greeted the southpaw with a two-run double into the right field corner, giving Jupiter a 4-1 lead.
Widener (L, 3-5) allowed four earned runs on three hits in three and two-third innings, walking four while striking out four. The right-hander threw 48 of 78 pitches for strikes.
Greg Bird walked to open the home half of the fourth. Chris Gittens followed with a two-run home run into Miller's Ale House in right field. The opposite-field blast, his seventh of the season, cut Tampa's deficit to one.
Jorgan Cavanerio (W, 1-2) made the start for the Hammerheads and held the T-Yanks to three earned runs on seven hits in five and a third innings, walking one while striking out four. The righty threw 50 of 72 pitches for strikes.
Jupiter took advantage of a pair of fielding errors in the sixth. The Hammerheads loaded the bases with one out and RHP Andrew Schwaab relieved Reeves on the mound. Morales bounced a ball to shortstop and two runners scored as Kyle Holder misplayed the ball. One out later, Barrett reached on a throwing error by Holder at shortstop, allowing a third run to score.
The most costly Tampa error occurred in the eighth. With two outs and the bases empty, Zach Sullivan reached on a misplay at third base by Gosuke Katoh . An infield single and a hit-batter loaded the bases and John Silviano crushes an opposite field grand slam over the wall in left field, giving Jupiter an eight-run cushion.
The T-Yanks did not go down without a fight. One out into the bottom of the ninth, Sharif Othman blasted a solo home run to right field. Mateo, Polo and Katoh all followed with singles, with Katoh driving in Mateo for Tampa's final run. Gittens grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the game.
All 10 Yankee batters recorded a hit. Mateo (2-for-5, R, SB) and Nick Solak (2-for-4) logged their second consecutive multi-hit games. Polo (2-for-5) and Holder (2-for-4) also had multiple hits. RHP Jose Pena (1.1IP, 1K) made a scoreless relief appearance.
Bird (1-for-3, BB, R) played his third game with Tampa, making his second start at first base and leaving after six innings. The 24-year-old is currently on a rehab assignment, returning from re-aggravating a bone bruise in his right ankle originally suffered towards the end of Spring Training.
The series continues on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. when RHP Zack Littell (6-1, 2.03 ERA) faces LHP Scott Squier (2-5, 4.61 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.
