Tampa Rallies Late, but Drop 12-8 Decision to Daytona

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Tarpons (32-18) showed plenty of fight late, but were unable to complete the comeback attempt Thursday night, falling 12-8 to the Daytona Tortugas (33-18) at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Luis Puello turned in a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-5, and has now raised his batting average to .368 throughout the month of August.

Daytona opened the scoring in the top of the third on a solo home run, but Tampa responded immediately in the bottom half. Back-to-back singles by Luis Escudero and Dax Kilby, followed by a Tortuga error, set up Paul Contreras with runners in scoring position. Contreras hit a sharp ground ball to the second baseman, who misfired on a throw to the plate, allowing Tampa to tie the game at 1-1.

Daytona’s offense got hot in the top of the fourth. The first batter reached on a Tarpons miscue, and the Tortugas would make them pay, going on to score eight runs in the inning. The visitors carried that momentum into the fifth, tacking on three more runs to take a 12-1 lead.

Brando Mayea continued his hot August in the bottom of the fifth, leading off with a single. Escudero followed with a double that split the left-center gap, bringing Mayea home and cutting into the Daytona lead.

The Tarpons continued to chip away in the bottom of the seventh. Puello doubled to lead off the inning before Tampa worked four straight walks. Contreras capped off the scoring with a sacrifice fly, making it a 12-5 Tortuga advantage.

Rafael Arias held Daytona’s offense in check in relief, and turned in 2.2 scoreless innings while fanning two.

Tampa made things interesting in the ninth. Mayea led off the inning with a home run into the right-field bleachers, and a hit by pitch, single, and walk loaded the bases for Luke Pettitte. Pettitte then roped a double down the third-base line, bringing the Tarpons within four with two runners on.

Ultimately, the rally fell short as the Tarps dropped this one, 12-8.

Both division leaders will return to action tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.