TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons (24-26, 52-64) had their losing streak stretched to five games as the Charlotte Stone Crabs scored early and often before cruising to a 9-0 victory, clinching a four-game sweep on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.Charlotte jumped on RHP Clarke Schmidt in the
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons (24-26, 52-64) had their losing streak stretched to five games as the Charlotte Stone Crabs scored early and often before cruising to a 9-0 victory, clinching a four-game sweep on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Charlotte jumped on RHP Clarke Schmidt in the first, getting back-to-back singles by Jake Palomaki and Wander Franco, followed by an RBI double by Kaleo Johnson. A wild pitch later plated Franco, but Schmidt got two strikeouts and a groundout to limit the damage.
Schmidt followed with a scoreless second, but Franco singled to lead off the third and scored as left-fielder Pablo Olivares bobbled a base hit by Johnson. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases, and Johnson was forced out at the plate as Michael Smith reached on a fielder's choice.
Garrett Whitley followed with a two-run single into center and, one out later, Jermaine Palacios lined a two-run single to right, giving Charlotte (37-15, 72-46) a 7-0 lead.
Schmidt (L, 4-5) allowed seven earned runs on seven hits, two walks and a hit-batter in three innings, tallying four strikeouts on 64 pitches (42 strikes).
Steven Sensley and Donny Sands hit back-to-back, two-out singles in the second, but were stranded by RHP Tobias Myers. Olivares lined a one-out double into the left field corner in the third and, one out later, Estevan Florial drew a walk, but the pair were left on base.
Myers (W, 6-1) also worked around a leadoff single by Diego Castillo in the fourth and a two-out single by Wilkerman Garcia in the fifth, completing five scoreless frames. The 21-year-old scattered six hits and one walk while striking out three on 76 pitches (51 strikes).
Franco and Johnson greeted RHP Hobie Harris with back-to-back singles in the fourth. One out later, Zach Rutherford lined a single to right, scoring Franco. Later, a two-out double by Whitley plated Johnson for a 9-0 lead.
Harris bounced back with a scoreless fifth, stranding a one-out single by Palomaki. LHP Anderson Severino took over in the sixth and tallied four strikeouts while scattering three singles over a scoreless three innings.
RHP Simon Rosenblum-Larson (SV, 7) relieved Myers in the sixth and retired the first six batters he faced before stranding a pair of walks in a hitless eighth. The 22-year-old stranded one more walk in the ninth to end the game, tallying four strikeouts in four scoreless frames.
Mickey Gasper went 0-for-3 (BB) at the plate before taking the mound in the ninth. The infielder worked around a pair of singles while inducing two flyouts and a pop-out notch a scoreless inning in his first professional pitching appearance.
Sands (1-for-3, BB) extended his hitting streak to seven games and is hitting .333 (12-for-36) over his last 11 games. Olivares (2-for-3, 2B, BB) reached base three times, snapping an 0-for-12 slide. Castillo (1-for-4) extended his on-base streak to 10 games.
The home stand continues on Monday at 6:30 p.m., with RHP Glenn Otto (1-2, 2.50) getting the start in the opener of a four-game series vs. the Palm Beach Cardinals. Live play-by-play of the action will be available on the Tampa Tarpons Baseball Network.
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).
