DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Angel Aguilar and Rashad Crawford combined to drive in all four runs as the Tampa Tarpons (14-13, 49-48) defeated the Dunedin Blue Jays (19-9, 50-46), 4-2, in the series-opener on Thursday night at Dunedin Stadium.Tampa used a trio of extra-base hits to open the scoring in the
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Angel Aguilar and Rashad Crawford combined to drive in all four runs as the Tampa Tarpons (14-13, 49-48) defeated the Dunedin Blue Jays (19-9, 50-46), 4-2, in the series-opener on Thursday night at Dunedin Stadium.
Tampa used a trio of extra-base hits to open the scoring in the second against RHP Maverik Buffo. Isiah Gilliam lined a leadoff double and, two outs later, Aguilar tripled off the top of the right field wall. Crawford followed with a ground-rule double over the wall in right-center, giving the Tarpons a 2-0 lead.
RHP Luis Rijo joined Tampa from Rookie-level Pulaski and impressed in a spot-start, tossing six strong innings. The 19-year-old allowed just one base runner through the first four frames before finding trouble in the fifth.
Ivan Castillo and Nash Knight reached on back-to-back singles to open the inning. One out later, Castillo scored on a sacrifice fly by Alberto Mineo. Yeltsin Gudino then legged out a two-out infield single, scoring Knight to tie the game.
The Tarpons promptly took back the lead in the sixth. Gilliam walked, Dom Thompson-Williams doubled and Hoy Jun Park walked, loading the bases with no outs. All runners advanced on a base hit to right by Aguilar, putting Tampa ahead, 3-2.
Dunedin brought in RHP Ty Tice and Crawford reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Thompson-Williams. A walk by Keith Skinner reloaded the bases, but Tice struck out Estevan Florial and got a fly out by Diego Castillo to end the inning.
Buffo (L, 2-1) allowed four earned runs on eight hits in five innings, walking two batters while striking out five. The 22-year-old threw 54 of 88 pitches for strikes.
Rijo (W, 1-0) worked around a two-out double in the sixth to complete his Tarpons debut. The Venezuelan allowed two earned runs on six hits in six innings and struck out three without allowing a walk, throwing 63 of 84 pitches for strikes.
RHP Greg Weissert (H, 2) stranded a walk and a single in the seventh and got two quick outs in the eighth before issuing a two-out walk. RHP Matt Wivinis (SV, 7) got a strikeout to end the eighth and added another punch out in the ninth, stranding a one-out single to complete a four-out save.
Aguilar (2-for-5, 3B, 2RBI, R) has hit safely in seven-straight games, batting .345 (10-for-29) with 7 RBI in that span. The 23-year-old also leads the Florida State League with seven triples.
Thompson-Williams (3-for-5, 2B, R) and Park (2-for-4, BB) also had multi-hit games. Crawford (1-for-3, 2B, BB, 2RBI) added his second multi-RBI game since joining Tampa. Florial (1-for-5) singled in the eighth in his first game back since May 17th.
The series continues on Friday at 6:30 p.m. when RHP Rony Garcia (0-1, 6.00) squares off against RHP Connor Eller (5-2, 2.70). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.
