Rosa Leads Tarpons to 10th Shutout Win

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Adonis Rosa combined with three relievers on a two-hitter over the Flying Tigers on Sunday afternoon as the Tarpons claimed the weekend series in Lakeland with a 3-0 win in the rubber game at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
It would be the first time Tampa (9-7, 44-42) won back-to-back games since taking the final two of a four-game series at home against Jupiter on June 23-24. The Tarpons now lead the Florida State League with 10 shutout wins.
Lakeland (10-5, 46-39) sent LHP Gregory Soto to the mound and Tampa pushed across a questionable run in the first.
Ben Ruta singled and stole second before a walk by David Metzgar . An infield single by Diego Castillo then loaded the bases with no outs. Soto struck out Dom Thompson-Williams , bringing up Donny Sands . A 1-1 pitch bounced behind catcher Kade Scivicque, allowing Ruta to score.
Flying Tigers manager Mike Rabelo argued that the pitch actually was fouled off the knob of Sands' bat. After home plate umpire Tanner Dobson got a second opinion from the field arbiter, Michael Carroll, the call of "wild pitch" was upheld.
Sands walked, reloading the bases, but Soto got a strikeout and a pop out to limit the damage. The southpaw would go on to retire 17 of the last 18 batters he faced.
Rosa took a perfect game into the fourth, before Luke Burch lined a leadoff single. One out later, Rosa walked Isaac Paredes, but struck out Scivicque and got a ground ball from Dylan Burdeaux to preserve the 1-0 lead.
Jose Azocar lined a one-out double in the fifth, but Rosa collected three strikeouts in the frame to strand the runner and complete his outing. Rosa (W, 9-2) scattered two hits and a walk in five scoreless innings, striking out five while throwing 49 of 79 pitches for strikes. The 23-year-old is now 7-0 in 10 road games.
The Tarpons stranded two in the seventh and one in the eighth before adding insurance off RHP Drew Carlton in the ninth. Rashad Crawford walked before advancing to third on a single Ricky Surum . Crawford then scored on a base hit by Daniel Barrios and Surum later crossed the plate on a two-out single by Metzgar.
LHP Phillip Diehl took the baton from Rosa in the sixth and stymied the Flying Tigers by striking out all six batters he faced in two perfect innings. RHP Greg Weissert stranded a hit-batter in a scoreless eighth and RHP Matt Wivinis (SV, 6) secured his second save in as many days by retiring the side in order in the ninth.
Soto (L, 4-4) shouldered the loss despite making a quality start, holding the Tarpons to one earned run on two hits and two walks in six innings. The 23-year-old tallied a season-high nine strikeouts and threw 60 of 92 pitches for strikes.
Castillo (2-for-5) logged his second-straight multi-hit game. Metzgar (1-for-4, BB, RBI) and Crawford (1-for-3, BB, R) also reached base twice apiece.
Up next, the Tarpons head to Jupiter, Florida, to begin a four-game series against the Hammerheads at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. LHP Dalton Lehnen (0-0, 3.86) will make the start against RHP Josh Roeder (3-2. 4.02) in the series-opener on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
Tampa returns home to George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday, July 13th, to open a weekend series with the Dunedin Blue Jays. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m.
On "Thirsty Fish Fryday," fans can enjoy seafood specials all night long, including: $7 popcorn shrimp combo, $8 buffalo popcorn shrimp combo and $9 beer battered fish. Fans can also enjoy $3 16oz. draft Budweiser/Bud Light, $1 small fountain drinks and 1/2 price wine from 6:00-8:00 p.m.