Ruta, Florial Lead Tarpons over Cardinals, 6-4
July 26, 2018 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
Patrick Osborn and Estevan Florial of the Tampa Tarpons
(Tampa Tarpons, Credit: Mark LoMoglio)
TAMPA, Fla. - Ben Ruta knocked in the game-tying run and Estevan Florial delivered a go-ahead, two-run single as the Tampa Tarpons rallied for three runs in the eighth to defeat the Palm Beach Cardinals, 6-4, in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Tarpons won their third-straight game and tallied 11 hits, giving them double-digit hits for the sixth time in their last seven games.
For the third-straight game, Tampa (17-16, 52-51) scored in each of the first two innings. Diego Castillo walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Donny Sands in the first before Angel Aguilar smashed a solo homer in the second.
RHP Rony Garcia tallied four strikeouts in a pair of hitless innings before Palm Beach (15-18, 54-43) scored in the third. Chase Pinder drew a two-out walk and scored on a double by Kramer Robertson, cutting the lead to 2-1.
The Tarpons loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Palm Beach starter Jake Walsh struck out Aguilar to escape the inning.
Walsh went on to retire the final 10 batters he faced. The right-hander allowed two earned runs on seven hits, two walks and one hit-batter in six innings, tallying five strikeouts on 89 pitches (58 strikes) in a quality start.
Robertson drew a leadoff walk in the sixth and, one out later, LHP Trevor Lane relieved Garcia. Lane promptly picked off Robertson, who was caught stealing second. The southpaw then struck out J.B. Woodman to end the frame.
Garcia held the Cardinals to one earned run on two hits in five and a third innings, walking three while striking out six on 94 pitches (60 strikes).
Jose Godoy reached on a throwing error by shortstop Hoy Jun Park and scored on back-to-back singles by Ryan McCarvel and Irving Lopez off Lane (BS, 5) in the seventh, tying the game at 2-2.
Tampa retook the lead off LHP John Killichowski in the bottom of the seventh when Ruta singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Rashad Crawford before scoring a base hit by Florial.
RHP Kaleb Ort (BS, 1)(W, 1-1) relieved Lane in the eighth walked Shane Billings with one out. Billings then tagged up to second on a deep fly out to center by Woodman before scoring on a two-out single by Stefan Trosclair. After a walk by Godoy, McCarvel grounded a go-ahead RBI single into left, giving Palm Beach a 4-3 lead.
Steven Sensley drew a one-out walk off Killichowski in the bottom of the eighth and RHP Estarlin Arias entered in relief. One out later, Aguilar worked a walk, putting the go-ahead runs aboard. Ruta then lined a single into left, scoring Sensley to tie the game. After a walk by Crawford, Florial stepped up with the bases loaded and drilled a single up the middle, scoring Aguilar and Ruta for a 6-4 lead.
RHP Matt Frawley (SV, 3) got three groundouts in a perfect ninth to close the game.
Ruta (3-for-4, RBI, 2R) played first base for the first time in his career and is batting .452 (14-for-31) with four three-hit games over his last eight games. Florial (3-for-5, 3RBI, CS) knocked in a season-high 3RBI while logging his first multi-hit game since returning from the disabled list.
Dom Thompson-Williams (2-for-4, CS) also contributed a multi-hit game. Crawford (1-for-2, BB, Sac-B) has hit safely in five-straight games, batting .471 (8-for-17) in that span. Castillo (1-for-4, BB, R) is batting (13-for-36) over his last nine games.
The series continues on Friday at 6:30 p.m., with LHP Dalton Lehnen (0-2, 3.20) scheduled to face RHP Evan Guillory (1-2, 7.01). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.
On "Thirsty Fish Fryday," fans can enjoy seafood specials all night long, including: $7 popcorn shrimp combo, $8 buffalo popcorn shrimp combo and $9 beer battered fish. Fans can also enjoy $3 16oz. draft Budweiser/Bud Light, $1 small fountain drinks and 1/2 price wine from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Images from this story
 Angel Aguilar of the Tampa Tarpons (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Ben Ruta and Estevan Florial of the Tampa Tarpons exchange high fives (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Patrick Osborn and Estevan Florial of the Tampa Tarpons (Mark LoMoglio) |
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