Fort Myers Sweeps Doubleheader Against Tampa to End First Half
Published on June 22, 2023 under Florida State League (FSL)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
Tampa Tarpons' Leonardo Pestana on the mound
(Tampa Tarpons)
TAMPA, Fla. - It was a day to forget for the Tampa Tarpons (31-35) as they dropped both games of the doubleheader against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (34-32). In game one, Tampa's offense could not gain any traction as they were shut out by a score of 2-0. The offense caught fire in game two, but the bullpen was not able to hold the three-run lead in the seventh and dropped the contest in extras, 7-6.
GAME 1
RHP Leonardo Pestana (3.2IP, 2H, 2R, ER, BB, 3K) took the ball to open the doubleheader. Despite taking the loss, Pestana gave Tampa 3.2 solid innings, where he had a whiff rate of 48%. He only allowed one earned run while lowering his ERA to 4.50.
All the scoring in game one came in the top of the fourth. Danny De Andrade bounced an infield single to third base and advanced to second on a single from Rubel Cespedes. De Andrade then moved up to third on a 5-4-3 double play. After Pestana drilled Kyle Schmidt, the Tarpons called on RHP Kris Bow to escape the jam, but he gave up the go-ahead run as he unleashed a wild pitch that scored De Andrade. Schmidt advanced to third on another wild pitch and scored on a passed ball.
Andrew Morris shut down Tampa's offense in game one. He held the home team to an average exit velocity of 88.6 MPH, which resulted in only two hits - both off the bat of SS Brenny Escanio. Following Morris, A.J. Labas pitched two no-hit innings to close out the game.
GAME 2
LHP Brock Selvidge (6.0IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 10K, HR) did all he could to get Tampa back on track with a victory in the nightcap. He filled up the strike zone, throwing 64 of his 93 pitches for strikes while racking up double-digit strikeouts. Selvidge relied on the two-pitch combo of his slider and fastball to set down the Mighy Mussels. His biggest moment was in the sixth inning; after putting runners on first and second with no one out, Selvidge struck out the next three batters in a row, letting out a lion's roar, knowing he kept the lead intact.
Ricardo Olivar drew a free pass to open up game two. With two away, he moved to second on a wild pitch and came around to score the game's first run on a ground-rule double off the bat of Rafael Cruz.
Tampa answered right back in the bottom of the first. CF Anthony Hall roped a 107 MPH single, and miscommunication between Dylan Neuse and Gregory Duran allowed a bloop single to fall in off the bat of SS Brenny Escanio. After a throwing error by Rubel Cespedes, LF Christopher Familia stepped up to the plate and did what he does best - RAKE. He scorched a game-tying 100 MPH double down the right field line.
A two-out rally gave the Tarpons the lead in the second. 3B Beau Brewer walked, and the order turned back over to 2B Jared Serna, who plated Brewer on a rocket double off the wall in right field. The rally continued as Hall picked up his second hit in as many innings, driving in Serna and extending the Tarpons lead to two. After the double, Escanio launched his first home run of the season. The Tarpons dugout was fired up for Escanio as they watched the ball land 369 feet later.
Fort Myers was able to cut into the lead in the fourth with a two-out rally of their own. Maddux Houghton muscled a single into right field, and Olivar blasted his sixth home run of the season to cut the lead to two.
Touch them all, Hall! Hall wasted no time answering back, swinging at the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fifth. The solo shot got out of GMS Field in a hurry at 101 MPH.
The Mighty Mussels did not go down without a fight. The Tarpons brought in RHP Manny Ramirez for the save, but he did not have much control. He walked the bases loaded, and the first run of the inning came in on a SAC-fly to center off the bat of Danny De Andrade. Cespedes brought the Mighty Mussels within one when he scorched a double to right field. With two outs and two strikes, Ramirez and C Omar Martinez got crossed up, and a passed ball brought in the tying run.
With the ghost runner (Ricardo Olivar) on second in the ninth, De Andrade grounded into a productive out and moved Olivar to second. Alec Sayre gave Fort Myers the lead with a base hit to center field, which would be just enough for the victory as Tampa could not muster up a rally.
The Tarpons will look to bounce back against the Mighty Mussels tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Tampa will turn to RHP Sean Hermann, looking to get back in the win column.
Images from this story
 Tampa Tarpons' Leonardo Pestana on the mound |
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