Severino Starts, Bullpen Shines as Tarpons Tame Tigers, 8-1

TAMPA, Fla. – On a rehab assignment, RHP Luis Severino got the start and was followed by a shutout performance by the bullpen while the offense stayed hot as the Tampa Tarpons (22-8) defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers (13-17), 8-1, to close out the series on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Anthony Volpe blasted a triple past the dive of Kingston Liniak into the gap in left-center before scoring on a wild pitch by RHP Ted Stuka in the first. Jake Sanford opened the second with a triple to center but was thrown out at the plate as Andres Chaparro reached on a fielder’s choice. One out later, Chad Bell crushed a two-run homer to right, giving Tampa a 3-0 lead.

Severino stranded a two-out walk in the first and retired the side in order in the second before yielding a leadoff double by Jimmy Kerr in the third. Two outs later, Gage Workman lined an RBI single to right. RHP Beck Way entered in relief and induced a groundout to end the frame.

Making his first start since having “Tommy John” surgery prior to the 2020 season, Severino hit up to 98.8 mph with his fastball yielding one earned run on two hits and one walk over two and two-third innings, striking out three while throwing 34 pitches (24 strikes).

Way (W, 1-0) went on to retire all nine batters he faced, tallying two strikeouts over a perfect three innings of relief, throwing 22-of-32 pitches for strikes in his first-career win.

Pat DeMarco reached on a hit-by-pitch, and Josh Smith walked with one out in the fourth before RHP Michael Bienlien relieved Stuka. DeMarco later scored on a two-out single by Austin Wells for a 4-0 lead.

Stuka (L, 1-2) allowed four earned runs on three hits, four walks and one hit-batter in three and one-third innings, striking out three on 81 pitches (40 strikes).

Tampa loaded the bases in the sixth and scored on a walk by Trevor Hauver. Against LHP Matt Walker in the seventh, Elijah Dunham walked and stole second before scoring on a base hit by DeMarco. A wild throw allowed DeMarco to take third before scoring on a single by Smith. In the eighth, Wells doubled and scored on a base hit by Smith off LHP Gabe Sequeira.

RHP Trevor Holloway (H, 1) stranded a two-out double by Dustin Garneau in the sixth and struck out a pair over an inning and a third. RHP Wellington Diaz worked around a hit and a walk in a scoreless eighth, and RHP Derek Craft retired the side in order in the ninth.

Volpe (2-for-5, 3B, R) is batting .526 (10-for-19) over his last five games. Wells (2-for-3, 2B, 2BB, RBI, R) has reached base safely in nine of his last 10 plate appearances, going 5-for-6 (3B, 2B, 4BB, 4RBI) in that stretch. Bell (2-for-4, HR, 2RBI, R) clubbed his fourth homer and is batting .400 (14-for-35) over his last 10 games.

Up next, the Tarpons hit the road for a six-game series at BayCare Ballpark against the Clearwater Threshers. The series-opener is set for Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., with RHP Yoendrys Gomez (0-0, 6.75) slated to start for Tampa.

The next home game will be on Tuesday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m. when the Tarpons open a six-game series vs. the Bradenton Marauders. On Tail Waggin’ $2 Tuesday, fans can enjoy $2 select concession items through the 2nd inning AND bring your dog to the game with the purchase of a $2 dog ticket.