Semple Logs Quality Start, but Tampa Falls in Extras, 5-4
TAMPA, Fla. -Trailing by two runs in the eighth, Tampa rallied for a 4-3 lead, but Daytona pushed across a run in the ninth and completed a sweep of the weekend series with a 5-4 win in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The Tarpons are
TAMPA, Fla. -Trailing by two runs in the eighth, Tampa rallied for a 4-3 lead, but Daytona pushed across a run in the ninth and completed a sweep of the weekend series with a 5-4 win in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Tarpons are now on a season-long seven-game losing streak. It was the second-straight game, and fifth time this season, Tampa was unable to hold onto a ninth-inning lead.
A trio of fielding errors led to three unearned runs as the Tarpons continued to struggle on defense. Tampa (17-25) committed nine errors in the series and leads the league with 49.
Back-to-back errors, along with a wild pitch, put runners on the corners with one out in the second, and a run scored as
The Tarpons put runners on base in each of the next three innings against RHP
Semple retired nine-of-10 batters faced before allowing a leadoff single by Yari in the sixth. Kolozsvary followed with a double and, after a strikeout and a pop-out, Semple intentionally walked Garcia before striking out Ventura, stranding the bases loaded for a third time.
Semple logged his first quality start of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits in six and a third innings, walking two while striking out five on 99 pitches (47 strikes).
Hill smashed a leadoff homer off Lillie in the eighth and, two outs later,
RHP
Ventura drew a walk to open the ninth and advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts. The tying run scored as Fairchild reached on an error by shortstop
Nutof struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth, forcing a 10th inning. Yari began the frame at second and, one out later,
Hill opened the bottom of the 10th at second base, but Nutof (W, 1-0) got a groundout by Castillo before striking out Cabrera and Gilliam to end the game.
Tampa tallied double-digit hits for the third-straight game, including multi-hit games by Cabrera (2-for-5, 2B, RBI), Sands (2-for-4, 2RBI), Aguilar (2-for-4, 2B) and Rijo (2-for-4, R). Gilliam (1-for-4, BB, R) reached base twice, and Hill (1-for-4, HR, RBI, R) smashed his third home run.
The Tarpons will continue a homestand with three games against the Florida Fire Frogs, beginning on Monday at 6:30 p.m. RHP
On "Dog-On Mondays," fans can bring their dog to the ballpark with the purchase of a $2 dog ticket. Fans can also purchase an $8 lower reserved ticket that includes a hot dog, chips and a small drink (Special only available for purchase at the GMS Field Box Office).