Tarpons drop home opener to Blue Jays, 6-2

TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons (1-3) fell to the Dunedin Blue Jays (3-1) in their home opener on Tuesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The Tarpons were unable to get the offense going after the first inning. Tampa left 10 runners on base while going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

RHP Gabriel Barbosa (4.2IP, 5H, 4ER, 2BB, 6K, WP) took the loss in his first start of the 2024 campaign, allowing four runs across 4.2IP. Barbosa primarily relied on his curveball, throwing for 36% of his pitches. Barbosa’s slider was his swing-and-miss pitch. He recorded four whiffs on the pitch, resulting in a 50% whiff rate.

With one away in the first, Cade Doughty ripped a double down the right field line for his first hit of the year. After Victor Arias singled to left field, runners were on the corners for Yhoangel Aponte, who brought in the game's first run on a SAC-fly to center field.

SS George Lombard Jr. opened the home half of the first with a walk, and DH Enmanuel Tejeda bounced a chopper to third base, which he beat out for an infield single. On the single, a wild throw advanced Lombard to third base and Tejeda to second. LF Coby Morales evened up the game at one apiece on an RBI groundout. 1B Dylan Jasso gave Tampa the early lead, lining a base hit to left field, plating Tejeda.

On a 1-2 slider, Manuel Beltre took a half swing and punched it into right field for a lead-off single in the fourth. On the next pitch, Beltre took off for second, and Edward Duran laced a double into the left-center gap to tie the game at two. Duran advanced to third base on a productive groundout from Cristian Feliz. With two away, Barbosa lost the handle on a fastball, sailing it to the backstop, allowing Duran to score.

Doughty drew a free pass with one out in the fifth, and after Barbosa struck out Arias, the Tarpons called on their bullpen to get the final out of the fifth. RHP Osiel Rodriguez took over on the mound and was immediately greeted with a bullet double into the left field corner off the bat of Yhoangel Aponte. Doughty darted around the bases to score all the way from first to extend Dunedin’s lead to two.

Aponte and Beltre hit back-to-back singles to set up Dunedin in the eighth. A balk advanced both runners and drew in Tampa’s infield for Feliz. He hit a sharp grounder to first; however, Aponte got a good jump off third, which allowed him to score. Beltre advanced to third on the groundout and crossed to score on a wild pitch.

The Tarpons loaded the bases in the ninth. The rally was set up with a single from C Edinson Duran, a double off the bat of 3B Brenny Escanio, and Lombard Jr. was hit by a pitch. The Tarpons were unable to capitalize, as the inning ended with a strikeout and a groundout.

The Tarpons will try to bounce back tomorrow night against the Blue Jays. RHP Luis Serna will toe the slab, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. at George M. Steinbrenner Field.