DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (11-17) let a 2-0 lead slip away when a costly error allowed the Dunedin Blue Jays (16-12) the chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth and go on to win, 3-2, in 10 innings on Thursday night at Florida Auto Exchange
DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (11-17) let a 2-0 lead slip away when a costly error allowed the Dunedin Blue Jays (16-12) the chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth and go on to win, 3-2, in 10 innings on Thursday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.
A pitcher's duel finally permitted a run when the Yankees claimed the lead in the sixth off RHP Jordan Romano.
In his Tampa debut, Gosuke Katoh doubled off the right field wall to open the sixth. Wes Wilson tapped a sacrifice bunt back towards the mound and Romano made a wild throw up the left field line, allowing Katoh to score and Wilson to reach on a fielder's choice. Jorge Mateo followed with a double, but Romano struck out the next two batters and stranded both runners.
Erik Swanson made his second quality start since joining the Yankees. The right-hander tossed six shutout frames, scattering four hits and two walks while striking out six and throwing 61 of 94 pitches for strikes in a no-decision.
Romano tied his season-high with nine strikeouts in a quality effort for the Blue Jays. The righty surrendered one unearned run on four hits in six innings, tossing 65 of 91 pitches for strikes while not issuing a walk.
Tampa added insurance off LHP Daniel Young in the eighth. Tito Polo tattooed the left field wall for a two-out triple and scored when Chris Gittens greeted reliever Philip Walby with an RBI single into right field.
RHP Cody Carroll relieved Swanson in the seventh and struck out a pair in two perfect relief innings.
RHP Matt Marsh (BS, 1) quickly retired the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth before Danny Jansen hit a pop-up above the infield and reached when the ball popped in and out of the glove of second baseman Nick Solak. Juan Kelly took advantage and crushed a game-tying two-run home run over the right field wall.
RHP Andrew Case (W, 3-1) pitched a 1-2-3 10th inning for Dunedin, striking out a pair.
The Blue Jays won the game when Connor Panas hit a walk-off, solo home run off RHP Hobie Harris (L, 1-3) with one out in the bottom of the 10th.
Solak (2-for-4) logged his sixth multi-hit game and extended his on-base streak to 14 consecutive games. Gittens (1-for-4, RBI) tallied his seventh RBI.
Up next, the T-Yanks return home to begin a three-game series with the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. LHP Josh Rogers (2-2, 2.16 ERA) is scheduled to face LHP Michael Velasquez (0-3, 5.60 ERA). First pitch is schedule for 7:00 p.m. on Wing Deal Friday. Fans can enjoy all-you-can-eat chicken wings from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. for $10. For tickets and further information, call (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tybaseball.com.
