Yankees Survive Cubs Comeback, Win 8-7

TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (30-26) held an 8-1 lead after four innings before the Daytona Cubs (31-23) rallied for six unanswered runs in a scary 8-7 win for Tampa on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The victory gives the Yankees a third consecutive series win and moves Tampa within two games of first place.

The Yankees broke a scoreless tie in the second by tagging RHP Juan Paniagua (1-4) for three runs. A two-base error allowed Jose Rosario to reach. Trent Garrison followed with a single before Ericson Leonora singled to left, scoring Rosario. One out later, Garrison scored as Reymond Nunez doubled to right-center. A sac-fly by Mark Peyton then scored Leonora from third.

Back-to-back walks by Eric Jagielo and Aaron Judge began the bottom of the third. Following a double-play ball by Rosario, Garrison lined an RBI single to center.

Daytona got on the board in the fourth against RHP Taylor Garrison as Kyle Schwarber tripled and scored on a sac-fly by Dan Vogelbach.

A four-run fourth by Tampa proved to be the final time the Yankees would score. Nunez doubled to right-center with one out. Payton followed with a walk before RHP Starling Peralta relieved Paniagua. Culver greeted the new reliever with a two-run triple to the corner in right. Jagielo followed with an RBI double and later scored as Rosario lifted a ball to shallow right and BiianRademacher dropped it.

RHP Mike Noteware made his Tampa Yankees debut in relief of Garrison in the fifth as Daytona started its comeback. Billy Mckinneyscored on a wild two error play to begin the frame. Later in the inning, Gioskar Amaya added an RBI single.

BijanRademacher hit a leadoff home run to right field off RHP Alex Smith (5-5) in the seventh. That proved to be the only hit allowed by Smith in two relief innings. The righty struck out two and earned his fifth win of the season.

Daytona rallied for three runs in the eighth off RHP Cesar Vargas, cutting the Tampa lead to 8-7. Schwarber doubled and advanced on a single by Vogelbach. Willson Contreras then belted a three-run bomb over the video board in left-center. Vargas settled down and retired six of the last seven batters he faced to end the game.

Jagielo went 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Trent Garrison collected an RBI and a run scored, going 3-for-4. Culver doubled and tripled in a 2-for-4 effort, scoring once while driving in two runs.

The game featured a total of eight errors (three by Daytona and five by Tampa).

Up next, the T-Yanks hit the road for two games in Brevard County against the Manatees beginning Monday at 6:30 p.m. The next home game for the Yankees will be on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Every Wednesday night Tampa Yankees home game, kids eat FREE! Kids 14 and under receive a coupon for a FREE scooter dog, cracker jacks, and small soda with the purchase of a reserved ticket ($5)! Also, kids run the bases after the game.