FSL1 Tampa Tarpons

Gregorius Homers for Lone Run as Tampa Drops Finale in Bradenton

May 26, 2019 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release


BRADENTON, Fla. - In a strikeout-filled finale, the Bradenton Marauders claimed a series-victory as the Tampa Tarpons continued to struggle on offense in a 3-1 final on Sunday afternoon at LECOM Park.

Didi Gregoriusplayed in his second rehab game with Tampa (21-28) and delivered a solo homer off RHP Nicholas Economos in his first at-bat to give the Tarpons a 1-0 lead in the first.

Economos (W, 1-1) struck out the next four hitters and went on to tally 10 punchouts while holding the Tarpons to one earned run on two hits, three walks and a hit-batter in a season-high seven innings, throwing 60 of 95 pitches for strikes.

RHP Miguel Yajure stranded a two-out double in the first and struck out the first two batters he faced in the second before Deon Stafford pulled a double into the left field corner. Raul Hernandez followed with a base hit to right, scoring Stafford to tie the game at 1-1.

Travis Swaggerty lined a leadoff single in the third and, one out later, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Jason Lopez before scoring on a go-ahead single by Chris Sharpe.

Sharpe took third on a groundout by Robbie Glendinning, and Lucas Tancas followed with a two-out single to right, plating Sharpe for a 3-1 lead.

After working around a base hit and an error in the fourth, Yajure issued a one-out walk to Sharpe in the fifth. Glendinning followed with a double, placing runners at second and third.

Tancas struck out looking before RHP Braden Bristo relieved Yajure. Bristo struck Dylan Busby out looking to strand the runners, maintaining a perfect strand percentage of inherited runners this season.

Yajure (L, 2-6) snapped a streak of three-straight quality starts, yielding three earned runs on eight hits in four and two-third innings. The 21-year-old walked one while striking out seven on 85 pitches (57 strikes).

Bristo struck out the side in the sixth, and RHP Hobie Harris struck out the first two batters he faced in the seventh before Sharpe reached on an infield single, snapping a streak of seven-consecutive strikeouts by Tampa pitchers. Sharpe was caught stealing to end frame.

Harris got Glendinning to fly out to open the eighth beforeRHP Greg Weissert entered and retired both batters he faced, including the 14thstrikeout by Tampa pitchers.

Pablo Olivares reached on an error, and Gregorius singled, putting the tying runs aboard against RHP Gavin Wallace in the eighth. Wallace struck out Isiah Gilliam and Dermis Garcia before Steven Sensley singled to load the bases, but Lopez grounded out, ending the inning.

The Marauders brought in RHP Shea Murray in the ninth and David Metzgar drew a two-out walk to keep the game alive. Olivares followed with a single, and a wild pitch placed both runners into scoring position, but Murray (SV, 1) struck out Gregorius to end the game.

Gregorius (2-for-4, HR, BB, RBI, R) reached base three times while striking out twice as the designated hitter in his second rehab game. Sensley (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to six games and is batting .324 (11-for-34) over his last nine games.

Tampa left 10 runners on base and finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position on Sunday. The Tarpons were held to two runs-or-less in all four games played at LECOM Park.

Following a league-wide off day on Memorial Day, the Tarpons will open a three-game series against the Dunedin Blue Jays at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. RHP Frank German ?(2-2, 3.03) is scheduled to start against RHP Maximo Castillo (2-4, 2.70).

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