Fleming Homers for T-Yanks in Loss to 'Tugas, 6-5
April 24, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (11-7) took the loss in the final game of their home stand as the Daytona Tortugas (6-12) snapped their five-game losing streak with a 6-5 win on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Tampa went 4-2 in the home stand and won the series against Daytona, 2-1.
Billy Fleming hit his first home run of the season, tallied three runs batted in and reached base four times.
Mark Payton drew a leadoff walk in the first and advanced on a balk by Daytona starter Keury Mella. Fleming drove in the run with a double. In the third, Fleming pulled a hanging breaking ball over the left field wall, giving Tampa a 2-0 lead.
Mella allowed two runs on three hits in four and two-third innings, tallying a season-high five walks and striking out two in a no-decision.
RHP Chance Adams got the start for Tampa and faced one batter over the minimum through his first four innings before the Tortugas tied the game in the fifth.
Taylor Sparks walked and advanced to third on a double by Ty Washington. Garrett Boulware followed with a sacrifice fly. Jonathan Reynoso hit a two-out, RBI single to knot the game at 2-2.
Adams held Daytona to two runs on four hits in five innings, walking one and striking out six in a no-decision.
Tampa reclaimed the lead in the sixth off LHP Seth Varner. Zack Zehner singled, Vicente Conde walked and both advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Francisco Diaz. RHP Jake Ehert relieved Varner and Jake Skole hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly. Payton followed with an RBI single, giving the Yankees a 4-2 advantage.
After a pair of shutout innings pitched by LHP Caleb Frare, Tampa brought in RHP Philip Walby (0-1) for the eighth.
Reynoso beat out an infield single and advanced on a base hit by Blake Trahan. Jeff Gelalich put down a sacrifice bunt and Walby made an errant throw to first, allowing Reynoso to score. Walby hit Aristides Aquino, loading the bases. Brian O'Grady tied the game with a sacrifice fly. RHP Jordan Foley relieved Walby and Angelo Gumbs smacked a go-ahead, two-run double to right-center, scoring Gelalich and Aquino and giving the Tortugas a 6-4 lead.
The Yankees brought the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth against Daytona closer, Jimmy Herget (SV, 2). Abiatal Avelino hit a ground-rule double to center and scored on a single by Fleming. Jorge Mateo entered as a pinch runner for Fleming, but the game ended on a fielder's choice grounder by Miguel Andujar.
Payton (2-for-3, 2 BB, RBI, R) and Fleming (3-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, R) reached base four times apiece.
The T-Yanks will enjoy an off day on Monday before traveling to Dunedin to begin a three-game series with the Blue Jays on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. RHP Gabriel Encinas (0-2, 2.92 ERA) is scheduled to throw for Tampa. LHP Ryan Borucki (1-1, 10.22 ERA) is slated to pitch for Dunedin.
The next home game for the Yankees is a double-header against the Brevard County Manatees on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. for the Autism Heroes Night and Jersey Auction. Come out and support the Artistas Development Center. Players & Coaches will be wearing custom jerseys, which will be auctioned during the game in a silent auction. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Artistas Development Center.
Every Saturday Tampa Yankees home game, all military receive a FREE upper reserved ticket with valid I.D. Kids run the bases before the game from 4-4:15pm. Player Autographs on concourse between games. **Ticket special can ONLY be redeemed at the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office.
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