TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons (9-11, 37-49) got a go-ahead hit by Pablo Olivares in the fourth but finished 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position as the Dunedin Blue Jays (15-4, 56-28) came back to win, 4-3, in 10 innings on Monday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.RHP Jio
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons (9-11, 37-49) got a go-ahead hit by Pablo Olivares in the fourth but finished 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position as the Dunedin Blue Jays (15-4, 56-28) came back to win, 4-3, in 10 innings on Monday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
RHP Jio Orozco started for Tampa and retired seven of the first nine batters he faced before yielding a two-out single by Kevin Vicuña. Vicuña then scored as Cullen Large reached on a two-base error by first-baseman Steven Sensley , giving Dunedin a 1-0 lead.
Following an 11-pitch walk by Olivares leading off the first, RHP Jason Adam tallied three strikeouts while retiring six-straight batters to complete his two-inning rehab start. The 27-year-old threw 27 of 42 pitches for strikes.
David Metzgar and Olivares both singled off RHP Turner Larkins with one out in the third. Larkins then walked Estevan Florial and Oswaldo Cabrera to force home the tying run but struck out Sensley and got a groundout by Donny Sands to strand the bases loaded.
Diego Castillo and Leonardo Molina lined back-to-back singles to open the bottom of the fourth and, one out later, both runners advanced on a groundout by Metzgar before scoring on a go-ahead, two-out, two-run single by Olivares, giving the Tarpons a 3-1 lead.
Orozco retired seven-straight batters to complete his outing, allowing one unearned run on three hits in five innings, walking none while striking out three on 68 pitches (48 strikes).
RHP Wellington Diaz (BS, 1) piggybacked with Orozco, taking over in the sixth and stranding a two-out walk before Dunedin rallied in the seventh.
Chavez Young drew a walk and, with two outs, scored on a double off the base of the left field wall by Norberto Obeso. Jesus Navarro followed with a game-tying RBI triple down the right field line, knotting the game at 3-3.
Like Orozco, Díaz also retired the final seven batters he faced. The 22-year-old allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks in four innings, striking out three on 65 pitches (35 strikes).
The Blue Jays got a scoreless inning apiece from RHP Graham Spraker and RHP Emerson Jimenez in the sixth, and RHP Jackson Rees struck out a pair in a perfect eighth.
Omar Carrizales led off the bottom of the ninth against Rees and doubled to right-center but was then thrown out trying to advance to third as Metzgar reached on a fielder's choice. Rees (W, 1-0) then got Olivares to ground into a double-play to send the game into extras.
Samad Taylor pinch-ran for Christopher Bec as the extra-inning runner for Dunedin in the 10th and advanced to third on a wild pitch by RHP Greg Weissert (L, 2-2) to begin the frame. One out later, Navarro put the Blue Jays ahead, 4-3, with a sacrifice fly.
Olivares began the bottom of the 10th at second base for Tampa, but RHP Brad Wilson (SV, 9) struck out Florial, Cabrera and Sensley to seal Dunedin's 10th-straight victory.
Castillo (1-for-4, R) extended his hitting streak to seven games, with Metzgar (1-for-4, R) stretching his to five. Olivares (2-for-4, BB, 2RBI, 2SB) reached base three times.
The series continues on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., with RHP Shawn Semple (1-2, 3.57) slated to face LHP Nick Allgeyer (6-3, 3.10). Live play-by-play of the action will be available on the Tampa Tarpons Baseball Network.
On "2-for-1 Tuesday," fans can get buy-one, get-one free deals on lower reserved tickets, hot dogs, burgers, fries and nachos from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (2-for-1 tickets may only be purchased from the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office.
