T-Yanks Avoid Sweep with 9-4 Win Over D-Jays
Tampa, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (5-8) avoided a sweep by the Dunedin Blue Jays (9-4) with a 9-4 win on Wednesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. D-Jays starter Efrain Nieves didn't last long as the T-Yanks scored seven times in the second inning.
Saxon Butler began the bottom of the second with a single. After Ali Castillo reached on a hit-by-pitch, Francisco Arcia singled to load the bases. Cody Grice then delivered a two RBI double. Eduardo Sosa followed with an RBI groundout to first. After Fu-Lin Kuo walked to load the bases, Ben Gamel hit an RBI double. Later, Gary Sanchez doubled down the left field line off of reliever Andrew Meyer. That gave Tampa a 7-0 lead.
The Blue Jays got two runs back in the fourth inning. After a leadoff single by Peter Mooney, Andy Burns hit a two run homerun to left.
Yankees starter Shane Greene (1-1) pitched six and a third innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out six.
Ali Castillo gave Greene more run support in the fifth. After a leadoff single by Butler, Castillo sent a ball over the left field wall for his first homerun of the season to give the Yankees a 9-2 lead.
Dunedin managed to score two more times. In the seventh, Matt Newman drove in Kevin Patterson with an RBI groundout to first. Aaron Munoz delivered an RBI double in the ninth to plate Newman.
The T-Yanks will travel to Daytona on Thursday to begin a three game series with the Cubs. RHP Mikey O'Brien is scheduled to start for Tampa.
The Yankees will return home on Sunday, April 21st to host the Brevard County Manatees. Fans can enjoy Silver Slugger's Day. All fans 55 years and older receive a coupon for a free hot dog, popcorn and soda with the purchase of a reserved ticket at the Steinbrenner Field Box Office.