O'Neill Homer Gives Tampa 5-4 Win
July 5, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
TAMPA - A seesaw contest ended in favor of the Tampa Yankees (5-5, 39-41) thanks to a go-ahead home run by Michael O'Neill in a 5-4 win over the Daytona Tortugas (5-5, 42-38) on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Daytona opened the scoring with a pair of runs against RHP Gabriel Encinas.
Ronald Bueno began the game with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Wes Wilson. One out later, Sebastian Elizalde lined an RBI double to center. Taylor Sparks hit a leadoff single in the second and stole second before scoring on a base hit by Carlton Daal.
Encinas settled down and tied a season-high with eight strikeouts in his five innings of work. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in a no-decision.
Tampa cut the deficit in half in the fourth. With one out, Jacoby Ellsbury singled to right. A groundout by Abiatabl Avelino pushed Ellsbury to second before Dustin Fowler drove him home with a line drive single to left.
The Yankees rallied to take the lead against LHP Seth Varner in the fifth. Dante Bichette Jr. lined a double to the wall in right-center and advanced to third via a single to left by Miguel Andujar. One out later, O'Neill tied the game with an RBI groundout. Wilson followed with a two out go-ahead single to center, scoring Andujar and giving Tampa a 3-2 lead.
Daytona quickly answered in the sixth, taking back the lead. RHP Luis Niebla entered the game for Tampa and loaded the bases with two outs. Daal lined a two-run single into left, giving the 'Tugas a 4-3 advantage.
The back-and-forth game saw its final runs scored by the T-Yanks in the seventh off RHP Joel Bender (3-2). Andujar laid down a bunt single with one out. One out later, O'Neill hit a go-ahead, two-out, two-run homer to left as Tampa regained the lead.
Niebla (1-3) earned the win in relief, yielding a run on a hit and a walk in two innings. RHP Alex Smith worked around a leadoff single in the eighth to face the minimum through two innings, striking out two and earning his fifth save.
Ellsbury (1-for-4) singled and scored a run in his fourth game with Tampa. The 31-year-old is now 2-for-13 on his rehab assignment.
Fowler (1-for-3, BB) picked up his sixth RBI and has reached base in all 12 games played with Tampa. Andujar (2-for-3, BB) reached base three times and scored twice. O'Neill (2-for-3) hit his third home run of the season and collected three RBI. Wilson (2-for-3, RBI) played his second consecutive multi-hit game.
The T-Yanks will go for a sweep in the series finale on Monday when RHP Rookie Davis (5-4, 3.15 ERA) takes the hill for Tampa. LHP Nick Routt (2-1, 3.48 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the 'Tugas. First pitch set for 7:00 p.m.
On Uncle Bob's Self Storage Military Monday, all military receive FREE admission with valid military I.D. All fans can enjoy half price burgers & chicken tender baskets from 6-8pm. The Free military ticket can only be received at the Steinbrenner Field box office.
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