Six-Run Eighth Leads Tarpons Past Marauders, 6-1

TAMPA, Fla. - A night after Bradenton used a six-run ninth to complete a comeback win, Tampa returned the favor by rallying for six runs in the eighth to come from behind and defeat the Marauders, 6-1, on Wednesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Tarpons (5-9) trailed, 1-0, entering the bottom of the eighth after six shutout frames by RHP Max Kranick and a perfect relief inning by RHP Gavin Wallace. Kranick scattered three hits and did not issue a walk while striking out one batter on 79 pitches (49 strikes).
Wallace (L, 0-2) returned for the eighth and Steven Sensley lined a leadoff single by second baseman Adrian Valerio. Donny Sands followed with a single to left and Bradenton (9-5) brought the corner infielders in, expecting a bunt by Tyler Hill .
Instead, Hill pulled a first-pitch double into the left field corner, scoring Sensley to tie the game at 1-1. One out later, Pablo Olivares hit a double into the same corner, plating Sands and Hill for a 3-1 lead.
Diego Castillo followed with a walk and, one out later, Dermis Garcia lined a ground-rule double down the left field line, scoring Olivares and Castillo. Garcia then scored as Isiah Gilliam lined a first-pitch single into shallow left-center, capping the six-run frame.
RHP Brooks Kriske (W, 1-1) combined with RHP Braden Bristo to retire 12-straight batters to close the game, Kriske struck out the final four batters he faced, and Bristo tallied three punchouts while sitting down six-straight batters after yielding a leadoff single in the sixth.
RHP Deivi Garcia started for Tampa and tallied eight strikeouts while holding the Marauders hitless into the fifth. Garcia issued a two-out walk to Jesse Medrano, and Medrano stole second before scoring on a flare into shallow right-center by Valerio.
At 90 pitches (53 strikes), Garcia was pulled from the game and Bristo entered, needing to throw just one pitch to complete the fifth as Valerio was caught stealing to end the inning.
Garcia allowed one run on one hit in four and two-third innings, walking three while striking out eight in a no-decision. The 19-year-old is tied for the Florida State League lead with 23 strikeouts in his first three starts.
Tampa appeared to tie the score in the bottom of the fifth, when Gilliam hit a leadoff double and Sands lined a single into center. Off on the pitch, Gilliam into slid into third and back-tracked behind third before proceeding to the plate. Umpire Ben Fernandez called Gilliam out for not retouching third base, and Manager Aaron Holbert was ejected for arguing the call.
Olivares (1-for-4, 2B, 2RBI, R) is now on an eight-game on-base streak. Sensley (1-for-4, RBI, R) and Castillo (1-for-3, 2B, BB, R) both extended their hitting streaks to four games. Garcia (1-for-4, 2B, 2RBI, R) leads the Florida State League with 15 RBI.
Up next, the Tarpons visit Spectrum Field for three games against the Clearwater Threshers. RHP Glenn Otto (1-0, 1.00) is scheduled to face RHP Alejandro Requena (1-0. 0.82) in the series-opener on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tampa Tarpons Baseball Network.
After a day off on Easter Sunday, the Tarpons will play three games in Port Charlotte before returning home to open a four-game series against the Threshers, beginning on Thursday, April 25^th, at 6:30 p.m. On "Taco Thursday," fans can enjoy an all-you-can-eat Taco and Nacho bar for $10, House Margaritas for $6 and Coronas for $4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.