CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Tampa Tarpons (34-31) rallied to tie the game in the seventh before losing, 4-3, in 10 innings as the Clearwater Threshers (29-34) walked off to take a 2-0 series lead on Tuesday night at Spectrum Field.The pitching matchup featured a pair of right-handers with the same
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Tampa Tarpons (34-31) rallied to tie the game in the seventh before losing, 4-3, in 10 innings as the Clearwater Threshers (29-34) walked off to take a 2-0 series lead on Tuesday night at Spectrum Field.
The pitching matchup featured a pair of right-handers with the same first name. Newly named Florida Stat League All-Star Adonis Rosa took the mound for Tampa against fellow countryman Adonis Medina.
The latter turned in a scoreless start, scattering five hits and two walks across six shutout innings. Medina struck out five while throwing 52 of 87 pitches for strikes.
Rosa struck out Arquimedes Gamboa before plunking Adam Haseley to begin the bottom of the first. Austin Listi followed by blasting a two-run homer over the left field wall.
The Threshers added another in the second when Raul Rivas reached on a fielder's choice, advanced on a groundout and scored on a two-out single by Grenny Cumana.
Rosa would retire eight of the next 10 batters he faced, completing five innings. The 23-year-old allowed three earned runs on four hits and one hit batter, striking out three while not yielding a walk and threw 51 of 67 pitches for strikes.
Former New York Yankees farmhand Luis Cedeno made his Clearwater debut by entering in relief in the seventh. The right-hander recently signed a contract with Philadelphia after being released on May 25th.
Ryan Lidge walked and David Metzgar singled to begin the inning. Ben Ruta followed with a double to right, scoring Lidge. An errant throw by right-fielder Jose Pujols allowed Metzgar to score. Ruta took third on a wild pitch and then scored on a game-tying single by Diego Castillo .
LHP Jakob Hernandez relieved Cedeno (BS, 1) and got three-straight outs to end the inning. Hernandez then stranded a pair of walks while striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
LHP Justin Kamplain relieved Rosa in the sixth and retired the first six batters he faced, striking out two. Gamboa began the eight by reaching on a misplayed fly ball in right. One out later, Kamplain intentionally walked Listi.
RHP Matt Frawley entered and struck out Edgar Cabral. After a walk by Pujols loaded the bases, Frawley got a groundout by Henri Lartigue to end the threat.
The game moved into extra innings and Isiah Gilliam started at second base for Tampa in the 10th. A sacrifice bunt by Hoy Jun Park pushed Gilliam to third, but LHP Josh Tols (W, 1-0) got back-to-back shallow fly outs from Dom Thompson-Williams and Lidge to maintain the tie score.
Cumana started at second base for Clearwater in the bottom of the 10th and RHP Matt Wivinis (L, 0-1) faced the top of the order. After a groundout by Gamboa, Haseley reached on an error at shortstop by Park. Cumana then scored on a game-winning single to left by Listi.
Castillo (2-for-5, RBI) logged his 15th multi-hit game. Gilliam (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to nine games. Park (1-for-2, 2BB, SB, Sac-B) leads the league with 37 walks. Lidge (0-for-3, 2BB) snapped a six-game hit streak.
The Tarpons will look to rebound when the series continues on Wednesday morning at 10:30. RHP Albert Abreu (2-2, 4.73) is slated to make the start against RHP Mauricio Llovera (2-4, 4.02). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.
