Tarpons Take Series with 6-2 Win on Fifth Third Field Day

TAMPA, Fla. -- In front of a crowd of 4,768, the Tampa Tarpons (23-17) secured a series-win by defeating the Dunedin Blue Jays (16-23), 6-2, on Fifth Third Field Day on Thursday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Thousands of students from Hillsborough County schools showed up as part of Education Day.
Nick Nelson made his third start since joining Tampa. The right-hander allowed a run on two hits in the first before setting down 15 of the next 17 batters he faced, logging his third quality start of the season (first with the Tarpons).
Estevan Florial (0-for-2) failed to reach base in two plate appearances, snapping a 32-game on-base streak. The 20-year-old exited the game in the fourth after experiencing right wrist soreness.
Logan Warmoth knocked a single into left and advanced to second on a groundout before scoring on a two-out single by Albert Mineo, giving the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead in the first.
Isiah Gilliam reached to begin the second when Warmoth bobbled a ground ball at shortstop. Back-to-back singles by Alexander Palma and Hoy Jun Park scored Gilliam before a base hit by Nathaniel Coronado loaded the bags. Timmy Robinson bounced into a 5-2-3 double play, placing runners at second and third. Kellin Deglan cashed both in with a two-out RBI single into right-center.
Gilliam drew a two-out walk in the third and scored when Palma blasted a double off the base of the wall in right-center, giving the Tarpons a 4-1 lead.
Dunedin starter Patrick Murphy (L, 2-3) allowed four runs (one earned) on seven hits in five innings. The righty hit a batter, walked two and struck out a pair while throwing 55 of 91 pitches for strikes.
Nelson (W, 1-1) held the Blue Jays to one earned run on three hits in six innings, walking one while striking out six. The 22-year-old threw 50 of 78 pitches for strikes.
Coronado misplayed a ball at first base, allowing Mineo to reach in the seventh. A base hit by Nash Knight put runners on the corners against LHP Phillip Diehl . Mineo scored when Kacy Clemens hit into a 6-3 double play. A fly out ended the inning.
The Tarpons added insurance against RHP Ty Tice in the eighth when Diego Castillo singled and scored on a two-run homer by Gilliam. It was Gilliam's sixth homer of the season and gave Tampa a 6-2 cushion.
D.J. Davis led off the eighth with a single, but was picked off first by Diehl (H, 3). The southpaw got a pair of groundouts to end the inning. RHP Hobie Harris entered in the ninth and issued back-to-back walks before getting a pop out and a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
Gilliam (1-for-3, HR, BB, 2RBI, 3R) tallied a season-high in runs scored. Palma (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) logged his seventh multi-hit game. Deglan (1-for-2, BB, 2RBI) lined his first hit since joining Tampa. Park (1-for-3, BB, RBI, R) ranks second in the league with 23BB. Castillo (1-for-2, R) is batting .343 (12-for-35) in his last 11 games.
The Tarpons visit Lakeland for a weekend series with the Flying Tigers, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. RHP Garrett Whiltlock (0-0, -.--) will start for Tampa, making his Tarpons debut against LHP Gregory Soto (1-0, 5.20). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.
Tampa returns home on Monday to begin a three-game series with the Charlotte Stone Crabs at 6:30 p.m. On "Dollar Dog Night, bring your dog to the game with the purchase of a $1 Dog Ticket. Fans can also enjoy $1 hot dogs all night long.