TAMPA, Fla. - Despite outhitting the Miracle, 10-3, the Tampa Tarpons were held scoreless as Fort Myers claimed the series-opener, 1-0, on Monday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.In the top of the second, Ryan Jeffers blasted a leadoff, opposite field home run over the short porch in right field
TAMPA, Fla. - Despite outhitting the Miracle, 10-3, the Tampa Tarpons were held scoreless as Fort Myers claimed the series-opener, 1-0, on Monday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
In the top of the second, Ryan Jeffers blasted a leadoff, opposite field home run over the short porch in right field for the lone run of the game. It was Jeffers' sixth homer of the season.
RHP Rony Garcia (L, 0-2) made his first start since returning to Tampa and held the Miracle to three base runners while logging his longest outing of the season. The 21-year-old allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk in six and two-third innings, striking out three while throwing 63 of 98 pitches for strikes.
LHP Adalberto Mejía opened for Fort Myers (37-26) as part of a Major League Rehabilitation Assignment. The Minnesota reliever notched two strikeouts while stranding a base hit by Oswaldo Cabrera in a scoreless first, throwing 11 of 14 pitches for strikes.
Tampa (27-36) spoiled several scoring opportunities the rest of the way, leaving a total of eight runners on base while going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Wendell Rijo and Estevan Florial both lined one-out singles in the third, but RHP Blayne Enlow got Cabrera to ground into a 6-3 double-play to end the frame.
Florial singled in the sixth and, with two outs, Isiah Gilliam pulled a base hit into right. A shift was on for Gilliam, and second baseman Michael Helman snared the ball before it reached the right field corner, preventing Florial from possibly scoring. Enlow struck out Dermis Garcia to end the inning.
In the seventh, Diego Castillo reached on an infield single and advanced to third on a one-out double by Steven Sensley . The Miracle brought the infield in and Jason Lopez grounded out to third before Rijo flied out to shallow center.
Enlow (W, 2-1) scattered seven hits and one walk in six shutout relief innings, striking out three on 79 pitches (49 strikes).
Gilliam and Garcia both singled with two outs in the eighth off RHP Hector Lujan, but Pablo Olivares popped out to end the frame. Lujan (SV, 6) retired the side in order in the ninth to complete the shutout - the 10th of the season for Fort Myers.
Florial (2-for-4) has reached base safely in seven-straight games since being activated off the injured list. Gilliam (3-for-4) logged his fourth three-hit game of the season. Garcia (1-for-4) has hit safely in five consecutive games.
The series continues with a doubleheader on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. LHP JP Sears (3-2, 3.49) is slated to start against LHP Tyler Watson (1-4, 4.34) in Game 1, with RHP Janson Junk (2-2, 4.46) set to face RHP Melvi Acosta (3-1, 3.08)in Game 2 30 minutes following Game 1. Both games are scheduled for seven innings.
Live play-by-play of the action will be available on the Tampa Tarpons Baseball Network. On "2-for-1 Tuesday," fans can get buy-one, get-one free deals on lower reserved tickets, hot dogs, burgers, fries and nachos from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (2-for-1 tickets may only be purchased from the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office.
