Sensley Homers in Rain-Shortened Loss, 4-1

LAKELAND, Fla. -- After both teams were rained out on Thursday, more rain affected the series-opener between the Tampa Tarpons and the Lakeland Flying Tigers. The game was called official after five innings due to continuous rainfall and the Flying Tigers claimed a 4-1 win on Friday night at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
RHP Anthony Castro entered his 12th start having already limited the Tarpons to one earned run in eleven and two-third innings over two starts against Tampa (7-7, 42-42).
Castro retired the first five batters he faced until Steven Sensley sent a rocket over the right field wall with two outs in the second, giving the Tarpons a 1-0 lead.
All of Sensley's 13 home runs (three with Tampa) have been solo shots.
RHP Garrett Whitlock returned to the site where he spun six scoreless innings in his debut with the Tarpons on May 18th. The 22-year-old induced three groundouts to begin his eighth start with Tampa, but ran into trouble in the second.
Lakeland (10-3, 46-37) loaded the bases with no outs and the tying run scored when Dylan Burdeaux hit a slow roller to third. Third-baseman David Metzgar threw the ball over first and out of play, allowing a go-ahead run to cross the plate.
With runners at second and third, Jose Azocar hit a comebacker to the mound. Whitlock threw home, forcing Danny Pinero into a rundown. As runners advanced to second and third, Pinero was retired on a 1-2-5 putout. Luke Burch followed with a two-out, two-run double, giving Lakeland a 4-1 lead.
Neither team scored in the third and fourth and, after a scoreless fifth by Castro, rain started falling. After a groundout by Isaac Paredes, the rainfall intensified and home plate umpire Tanner Dobson ordered players to leave the field.
After a 54-minute delay, the game was called official.
Castro (W, 5-2) held the Tarpons to one earned run on three hits and one walk in five innings, tallying six strikeouts while throwing 44 of 69 pitches for strikes. The 23-year-old is now 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in three starts against Tampa this season.
Whitlock (L, 3-2) shouldered the loss, yielding four runs (one earned) on six hits and one hit-batter in four and a third innings. The Georgia native tallied four strikeouts and did not issue a walk while throwing 51 of 74 pitches for strikes.
Metzgar (1-for-1, BB) reached base twice. Dom Thompson-Williams (0-for-2) snapped an eight-game hitting streak.
The series continues on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. when RHP Nick Nelson (3-2, 3.52) squares off against RHP Alfred Gutierrez (1-2, 2.40). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.