Ford, Aune Lift Yankees to Victory, 7-1
April 8, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - Mike Ford collected three RBIs and Austin Aune crushed his first home run of the season in a convincing 7-1 win for the Tampa Yankees (2-0) over the Lakeland Flying Tigers (0-2) in the home opener on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Ford delivered the tying and go-ahead RBIs, going 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored. Aune issued the dagger with a three-run bomb in the eighth.
LHP Ian Clarkin took home a no-decision for Tampa after holding Lakeland to a run on three hits in five innings of work. The 21-year-old walked one and struck out a pair.
The Flying Tigers scored their lone run in the first when Cameron Maybin hit a leadoff double and later scored on a wild pitch by Clarkin.
Lakeland starter Tyler Alexander took a no-hitter into the fourth until Miguel Andujar lined a one-out double into the right field corner. That is when Ford tied the game with an RBI single.
Alexander allowed one run on four hits in five innings, striking out five while not surrendering a walk.
Tampa took the lead against reliever Johan Belisario (0-1) in the sixth. With one out, Mark Payton singled and advanced when a pitch hit Andujar. A base hit through the left side by Ford allowed Payton to score, giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead.
Dan Camarena (1-0) relieved Clarkin in the sixth and tossed three scoreless innings, retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced. The lefty allowed one hit and tallied one strikeout in his first win since August 25th, 2014, with Trenton.
Ford provided insurance in the eighth with an RBI double off Lakeland reliever Gage Smith. After Abiatal Avelino walked, Santiago Nessy lined an RBI single to left and Aune homered over the wall in right-center.
LHP Caleb Frare closed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth, tallying one strikeout.
Payton went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Nessy finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Andujar and Michael O'Neill each doubled and reached on a hit-by-pitch.
Up next, the series continues in Lakeland at Historic Henley Field on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Tampa right-hander Chance Adams (0-0, -.--ERA) is scheduled to face southpaw Jairo LaBourt (0-0, -.-- ERA).
The T-Yanks return home on Monday night to host the Bradenton Marauders at 7:00 p.m. Every Monday Tampa Yankees home game, fans can enjoy 1/2 price chicken tender baskets, hot dogs, peanuts, nachos, small popcorn and regular soda from 6:00pm-8:00pm.
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Florida State League Stories from April 8, 2016
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