Despite 19 Hits, Tampa Loses Heartbreaker, 10-9
Published on June 8, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons (32-19) tallied a season-high 19 hits and twice led by five runs, but the Bradenton Marauders (31-25) scored the final six runs of the game to steal a 10-9 victory in the series-opener on Friday night a George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Tampa sent eight batters to the plate and collected five extra-base hits in a four-run second against Bradenton starter Evan Piechota.
Brandon Wagner hit a leadoff homer. Dom Thompson-Williams doubled and scored, one out later, on a triple by David Metzgar . Another out later, Ben Ruta belted a two-run homer to right. Hoy Jun Park followed with a double before Piechota ended the frame.
Isiah Gilliam opened the bottom of the third with a single and advanced to third on a base hit by Thompson-Williams before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Lidge.
Piechota gave up five earned runs on 10 hits in four innings, walking one while striking out five in his debut with the Marauders. The right-hander threw 64 of 95 pitches for strikes
Albert Abreu made the start for Tampa and carried a no-hitter into the fifth. Bradenton then loaded the bases with a walk and a pair of hit-batters. Mitchell Tolman broke up the no-hitter with an RBI single and Jung Ho Kang followed with a two-run double.
An error allowed a fourth run to score before Abreu got a pair of strikeouts to end the fifth. Abreu continued to retire seven-straight batters before leaving the game following a two-out single by Tolman in the seventh. RHP Matt Frawley entered and induced an inning-ending groundout by Kang.
Abreu turned in a quality start, yielding four runs (three earned) on three hits in a season-high six and two-third innings. The righty allowed two hit-batters and three walks while striking out five and threw 73 of season-high 105 pitches for strikes.
Alexander Palma jumped on the first pitch by LHP Jacob Brentz and hit a home run to right-center to begin the bottom of the seventh. One out later, Wagner singled and scored on a double by Thompson-Williams. Lidge followed with an RBI single. After a base hit by Metzgar, Brentz walked Eduardo Torrealba and Ruta to force in a run, giving the Tarpons a 9-4 lead.
Frawley walked the first two batters of the eighth and, after a mound visit, gave up a three-run home run to Arden Pabst, cutting the lead to 9-7. Bligh Madris followed with a double, but Frawley got a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to maintain the lead.
LHP Trevor Lane (BS, 2)(L, 1-2) entered for the save and struck out Tolman before walking Kang. Pinch-runner Adrian Valero took Kang's place and advanced to second on a groundout by Albert Baur. Down to their final out, Bradenton got back-to-back doubles by Alfredo Reyes and Pabst, tying the game at 9-9.
The inning continued when Madris reached on a hit-by-pitch. Lucas Tancas then grounded a ball toward second. Torrealba booted the ball into left field, allowing Pabst to score the go-ahead run.
After tossing a scoreless eighth, RHP Matt Eckelman returned to pitch the ninth for Bradenton. Lidge opened the frame with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Angel Aguilar . After a failed bunt attempt, Metzgar singled to right. A sacrifice bunt by Torrealba pushed the tying and winning runs into scoring position with one out.
Eckelman (W, 4-0) intentionally walked Ruta before striking out both Park and Palma to end the game.
Ruta (3-for-4, HR, 2BB, 3RBI, R, CS) clubbed his third homer and reached base five times on his 24th birthday. Wagner (3-for-5, HR, RBI, 2R, CS) hit his 11th home run and logged his third-straight multi-hit game. Thompson-Williams (3-for-5, 2 2B's, RBI, 2R, SB) had his second-straight three-hit game.
Palma (2-for-5, HR, BB, RBI, R) tallied his fifth homer. Metzgar (3-for-5, 3B, RBI, R) collected three hits in his Tarpons debut. Park (2-for-6, 2B) and Lidge (2-for-4, 2RBI, R, Sac-F) also had multi-hit games.
The series continues on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. with RHP Garrett Whitlock (1-0, 0.66) set to face RHP Luis Escobar (4-3, 3.62). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network. Fans are invited to stay after the game to watch a movie on the video board as part of Movie on the Diamond Night.
On "Salute to Service Members Saturday," all military receive a FREE upper reserved ticket with valid I.D. Also, select Tarpons players will be signing autographs on the concourse from 5:40-6:00 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from June 8, 2018
- Tortugas Fall 90-Feet Short Friday - Daytona Tortugas
- Padlo's Slam Not Enough in 8-5 Loss - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Despite 19 Hits, Tampa Loses Heartbreaker, 10-9 - Tampa Tarpons
- Big Seventh Propels Dunedin Past Fort Myers - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Fanti Strikes out Seven in 8-5 Victory - Clearwater Threshers
- Padlo's Slam Not Enough in 8-5 Loss - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Prevost Pitches Mets to 2-0 Win at Lakeland - St. Lucie Mets
- Registration Open for Annual Charity Bowling Tournament - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Hip-Hip Yar-Ay, Tortugas Walk-Off - Daytona Tortugas
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