Sauer, Sanford Shine in Shutout as Tampa, Jupiter Split Doubleheader

TAMPA, Fla. – Jake Sanford drove in five runs while RHP Matt Sauer completed a one-hit shutout in a 6-0 victory for Tampa in the continuation of Thursday’s suspended game before the Jupiter Hammerheads capitalized on errors to win, 3-1, in the nightcap, splitting a twin bill on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Following an 8-1 victory in game one of Thursday night’s doubleheader, LHP Clay Aguilar started game two by striking out a pair in a perfect first inning. Rainfall followed and, in the middle of the first, play was suspended.

When play resumed on Friday, Tampa (34-16) quickly took the lead off LHP Luis Palacios in the bottom of the first. Anthony Volpe drew a leadoff walk, and Trevor Hauver followed with a line drive single to right before Sanford crushed a home run to right for a 3-0 lead.

Jesus Bastidas took Palacios deep in the second, and the Tarpons added two more in the fourth when Sanford stepped up with the bases loaded and lined a two-out, two-run double to center, giving him a career-high 5 RBI while putting Tampa ahead, 6-0.

Meanwhile, Sauer picked up where Aguilar left off and carried a no-hitter into the seventh, allowing only one base runner via an error in the fourth before yielding a leadoff single by Victor Mesa Jr. Sauer struck out the next two batters and, after another error put a second runner aboard, struck out one more to close the game.

Sauer (W, 1-1) tallied a career-high 10 strikeouts while logging his second quality start of the season, tossing a scoreless six innings on one hit and no walks, tossing 85 pitches (59 strikes).

RHP Randy Vasquez got the nod in game two and held Jupiter (23-28) scoreless over his first three innings, stranding a two-out single in the first and a two-out triple in the third. Monte Harrison lined a leadoff double in the fourth and, two outs later, scored while Cameron Barstad reached on a fielding error by Bastidas at shortstop.

A base hit by Diowill Burgos followed the error before Vasquez got a strikeout to strand a pair. Vasquez (L, 1-3) returned for the fifth and retired the first two batters before departing. The 22-year-old held Jupiter to one unearned run on four hits in four and two-third innings, tallying seven strikeouts while walking none on 84 pitches (55 strikes).

RHP Carson Coleman relieved Vasquez with two outs in the fifth and issued a walk before hitting a batter to put two aboard. On a double-steal attempt, catcher Austin Wells made an errant throw towards third base and into left field, allowing both runners to score.

Tampa could not do much against Jupiter starter M.D. Johnson (W, 3-4). The righty scattered one hit and three walks over a scoreless five innings, throwing 50-of-84 pitches for strikes.

Back-to-back walks by Hauver and Sanford to begin the sixth brought the tying run to the plate with no outs, but RHP Sam Bordner (H, 1) worked out of trouble with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to keep the Hammerheads ahead, 3-0.

In the seventh, Juan De Leon reached on an infield single as third baseman Dalvy Rosario failed to locate a popup along the third base line. Two outs later, Wells slapped a single into shallow center, and Hauver followed with an RBI single to right, bringing the winning run to the plate, but RHP Eli Villalobos (SV, 1) got Sanford to ground out to secure the win for Jupiter.

Volpe (0-for-2, 5BB, R, SB) tallied his 20th stolen base while reaching base safely in both games to extend his on-base streak to 24 games. Hauver (3-for-7, BB, RBI, R) hit safely in both ends of the doubleheader and is now batting .455 (15-for-33) over his last 10 games.

The series continues Saturday at 6:30 p.m., with RHP Beck Way (1-0, 2.35) slated to make the start opposite a Jupiter starter TBA. On All-You-Can-Eat (& Drink) Saturday, for ONLY $49, fans can enjoy all-you-can-eat ballpark fare and beer/wine/soda/water from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Package includes a ticket to the game and access to the private Spectrum Dugout Club.