Tarpons can’t overcome Reyes’ six RBIs, fall to Threshers, 10-4

TAMPA, Fla. - The last time the Tampa Tarpons (19-18) took the field at George M. Steinbrenner Field on July 30, the roster looked slightly different. Since that game, Tampa has promoted seven players, including FSL home run leader Jared Serna, who will continue their road to the Bronx with the Hudson Valley Renegades. One of the additions to the Tarpons’ roster is fourth-round pick 2B Roc Riggio, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI in his Tarpons debut in a 10-4 loss to the Clearwater Threshers (24-13).

RHP Justin Lange (3.2IP, 5H, 7R, 2ER, 4BB, 5K) struggled early while making his 18th start of the season. Lange gave up seven runs in his three-plus innings of work; however, only two of the runs were earned. He relied heavily on his sinker, using it 63% of the time. Lange was able to run the sinker up to 97 MPH and get seven whiffs with the pitch.

Emaarion Boyd blooped a single to right field to start the contest. After stealing second base, Boyd advanced to third base on a balk and came around to score on an RBI knock by Justin Crawford. After a fielding error, Clearwater brought in their second run of the frame when Felix Reyes lifted a SAC-fly to left field.

The Threshers tacked on two more runs in the second. After loading the bases, Crawford and Bryan Rincon drew free passes to plate two more runs. With the bases still juiced, Lange settled down to retire the next two batters and hold the deficit at four.

Riggio and the reigning FSL Player of the Week, C Omar Martinez, walked in the third to set up 1B Josh Moylan, who cashed in with a base hit to center field. Riggio showed off the wheels, beating the throw from Pache in center to score. After the single, RF Garrett Martin kept the rally going, lacing a 96.9 MPH two-run double off the left field wall to pull Tampa within one.

After two quick outs to start the fourth, Crawford doubled, and Rincon reached on Tampa’s third error of the night. Reyes took advantage of the error, blasting a three-run homer to right-center field to extend Clearwater’s lead to four.

Tampa’s bats came alive again in the home half of the fourth. LF Coby Morales led off with a walk, and CF Tayler Aguilar smoked a 105.2 MPH ground-rule double over the center field wall. With both runners in scoring position, Riggio picked up his first RBI as a Tarpon with a groundout to first base.

Rincon worked a one-out walk and stole second base to put himself in scoring position in the sixth. Reyes stepped up to the dish and hit a fly ball so high that Morales couldn’t see it. As Morales shrugged his shoulders while looking for the ball in the lights, the ball landed on the warning track and bounced over the wall for an RBI ground-rule double.

Clearwater added one run in the eighth and one more in the ninth to thwart any hope of a comeback for the Tarpons. In the eighth, Reyes popped a single past a drawn-in infield for his sixth RBI of the night. The tenth run came on a SAC-fly from newly entered Troy Schreffler.

The Tarpons will turn to RHP Cam Schlitter to get back in the win column tomorrow night against the Threshers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at GMS Field.