Clearwater Newcomers Throttle Tarpons, 9-1
August 2, 2022 - Florida State League (FSL)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
Tampa Tarpons' Antonio Gomez
(Tampa Tarpons, Credit: Mark LoMoglio)
TAMPA, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers (10-21) proved again to be Tampa's kryptonite this season, defeating the Tarpons (19-10) at George M. Steinbrenner Field, 9-1. It was a one-sided showing throughout the entire game with Clearwater taking an early lead and never looking back. Caleb Ricketts made a great first impression for the Threshers, who had five starters make their Single-A debut during Tuesday's contest. The five newcomers combined for a total of twelve hits, six runs, and five RBIs.
RHP Tyrone Yulie (3.1IP, 8H, 4ER, BB, 3K) took the mound for Tampa, fresh off a red-hot month of July where he orchestrated a 2-0 record and 0.59 ERA over three starts. Unfortunately, the recent success did not immediately translate into August.
The Threshers drew first blood off Yulie in the top of the first as McCarthy Tatum, Chad Castillo and Caleb Ricketts all found outfield grass for their first career Single-A hits. Ricketts' single drove in Tatum to put the visitors on top, 1-0. Things could have gotten far worse for Tampa - Yulie plunked Cade Fergus to load the bases but induced a fly ball out to escape the jam and limit any further harm.
Clearwater instead inflicted that "further harm" in the top of the third inning, lighting up Yulie for another three runs. Tatum smoked a double to center and came around to score on Troy Schreffler's first Single-A hit - an RBI-double to rightfield. Ricketts dropped another bloop single in front of RF Kyle Battle, scoring Schreffler for his second RBI-single of the night. Fergus walked and Micah Yonamine singled on a ground ball up the middle to load the bases again. This time around, Clearwater delivered with the bases juiced and added another run off the bat of Erick Brito to extend the lead, 4-0.
Yulie's night was cut short in the top of the fourth as manager Rachel Balkovec called upon LHP Ryan Anderson in relief.
Over two innings of work, Anderson surrendered two runs across three hits and a walk. Home plate umpire Warren Eubanks called the young lefty out for a balk in the fifth which scored Jamari Baylor. The other run was coughed up in the sixth as Castillo added an RBI-single of his own to score Tatum. RHP Enrique Santana took over for Anderson midway through the frame and retired the final two outs.
Next inning, Leandro Pineda added an insurance run with a SAC-Fly off RHP Trevor Holloway.
The Tarpons did manage to finally scratch a run across the board in the bottom of the seventh. Battle doubled to center and 3B Luis Santos singled to left to put runners on the corners. With two outs, C Antonio Gomez laced an RBI-single to the opposite way.
Holloway struggled to keep Clearwater off the board to wrap things up. In the top of the eighth, Fergus ripped an absolute rocket over the fence in left for his first home run at the Single-A level. Pineda also decided to rub some salt in Tampa's wounds by depositing a long-ball into the seats in right.
Following the victory, the Threshers have taken 11 of the 13 games played between both teams this year.
The Tarpons return to action tomorrow afternoon when they host the Threshers for a doubleheader. Game 1's first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM EST, with RHP Yon Castro expected to make the start for Tampa.
Images from this story
 Tampa Tarpons' Antonio Gomez (Mark LoMoglio) |
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