Ramirez Opens Second Half with a BANG, Tarpons Win 5-3
June 23, 2023 - Florida State League (FSL)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
Tampa Tarpons celebrate win
(Tampa Tarpons)
TAMPA, Fla. - Friday night was a fresh start for the Tampa Tarpons (1-0) as the records reset for the second half and the bats came alive to defeat the Mighty Mussels (0-1) at GMS Field, 5-3. Recently, it seems every night another Tarpon plays the hero; tonight it was C Agustin Ramirez' turn. Ramirez belted the go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning to propel Tampa to victory.
After a shaky outing in Clearwater last week, RHP Sean Hermann (7.0IP, 4H, 2R, 2BB, 8K, HR) bounced back with a dominant seven-inning performance. Hermann kept the Mighty Mussels off balance with a four-pitch mix, predominantly relying on his sinker. He ran the sinker up to 94 MPH and held Fort Myers' batters to an average exit velocity of 79 MPH on the pitch.
LF Christopher Familia led off the second inning with a leadoff single. The base hit left Familia's bat at 104 MPH. SS Brenny Escanio took Familia's place on first after grounding into a fielder's choice. With two away, a balk advanced Escanio to second, and he came around to score on an RBI base knock from DH Tayler Aguilar.
Two homers in as many days? CF Anthony Hall likes the sound of that; he demolished his sixth home run of the season to give Tampa a two-run lead in the third. The solo shot was 103 MPH off the bat and traveled 366 feet.
The Mighty Mussels answered right back in the fourth. Rubel Cespedes launched a lead-off home run to right-center field to pull Fort Myers within one. The inning ended with a web gem from 1B Jake Palmer. Palmer fully extended to his glove side and flipped to the covering Hermann to beat a diving Gregory Duran.
Kyle Schmidt opened the seventh with a loud double all the way to the wall in center field. He moved up to third on a groundout and scored to tie the game on a SAC-fly by Dylan Neuse.
RHP Shane Gray (2-2) took over in the eighth, and Fort Myers broke the tie. Maddux Houghton punched a single to right field, and Ricardo Olivar laced a single of his own to right field to put runners on the corners. A fielder's choice from Cespedes plated the go-ahead run.
Good thing there is no quit in these Tarpons! 2B Jared Serna ripped a two-out double over the leaping glove of Olivar. He advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then the wackiness started. Tampa caught quite the break when a 93 MPH grounder hit off of field umpire Davion Frye; the groundball would have been the end of the inning, but because it hit the umpire, Hall was awarded a single and Serna was put back on third. Then Ramirez stepped up to the plate and provided the knockout punch. Ramirez took advantage of his opportunity and uncorked a three-run homer to put the game on ice.
The Tarpons will be back at it tomorrow against the Mighty Mussels. RHP Justin Lange will be on the hill, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
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 Tampa Tarpons celebrate win |
Florida State League Stories from June 23, 2023
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- Mets Win First Game Of Second Half 7-2 Over Hammerheads - St. Lucie Mets
- Threshers Mash Three Homers to Start Second Half with Win - Clearwater Threshers
- Ramirez Opens Second Half with a BANG, Tarpons Win 5-3 - Tampa Tarpons
- Ramirez Homer Sinks Mussels 5-3 in Second Half Opener - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Rick Williams to be Inducted into Killebrew Root Beer Southwest Florida Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
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