Schmidt, Mize Duel as Tarpons Fall in Lakeland on Opening Day
Published on April 5, 2019 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
Tampa Tarpons pitcher Clarke Schmidt
(Tampa Tarpons, Credit: Mark LoMoglio)
Tampa, Fla. - The 2019 Florida State League season opened on Thursday and RHP Clarke Schmidt gave the Tampa Tarpons a nearly perfect performance, but the Lakeland Flying Tigers scored late and prevailed in walk-off fashion, 4-3 in 10 innings.
A game-winning RBI single by Brady Policelli sent many of the crowd of 1,675 home happy from Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
RHP Casey Mize matched Schmidt as both starting pitchers completed five scoreless innings. Both know each other from their days in the SEC, when Mize (1st overall pick by Detroit in 2018) pitched at Auburn University and Schmidt (16th overall pick by New York in 2017) pitched at the University of South Carolina.
The only baserunner allowed by Mize was an opposite-field single by Steven Sensley with two outs in the fifth. Mize tallied a career-high eight strikeouts while throwing 47 of 68 pitches for strikes.
Lakeland did not have a baserunner until the fourth, when Luke Burch struck out on a pitch in the dirt but reached safely on an errant throw by catcher Donny Sands .
Schmidt struck out the next three batters, turning in a four-strikeout inning.
A throwing error by shortstop Diego Castillo allowed A.J. Simcox to reach in the fifth, but Schmidt got a pair of ground balls and a strikeout to strand the runner.
Schmidt logged a career-high nine strikeouts while issuing no hits or walks over five frames, throwing 46 of 65 pitches for strikes.
Tampa opened the scoring off Lakeland reliever Burris Warner in the seventh, when Dermis Garcia singled and scored on an RBI double by Isiah Gilliam. Sensley followed with a base hit to left, scoring Gilliam for a 2-0 lead.
RHP Rony Garcia reliever Schmidt in the sixth and retired the first six batters he faced, carrying a no-hitter into the eighth.
Burch broke the bid by reaching on a bunt single to begin the eighth. One out later, Joey Morgan walked, and Cole Peterson hit a ground ball to shortstop. Castillo made a diving stop, but threw wide of second, allowing a run to score.
Garcia limited the damage, retiring the next two batters to end the frame. Tampa got the run back in the ninth off RHP Ethan DeCaster when Oswaldo Cabrera and Dermis Garcia hit back-to-back doubles, giving the Tarpons a 3-1 lead.
Controversy ensued in the bottom of the ninth. After a leadoff walk by Kody Clemens, a deep fly ball was hit down the left field line by Daniel Reyes. The ball flew over the fence and was ruled "fair" by home plate umpire Jude Koury.
Many of the Tarpons on the field became visually upset and manager Aaron Holbert pled "foul ball." After a conference between Koury and umpire J.C. Velez, the call was upheld.
A 3-3 tie entered extra innings and Gilliam began the frame at second base. RHP Will Vest (W, 1-0) entered and got a pair of strikeouts while stranding a pair of runners to keep the score knotted.
RHP Brooks Kriske (L, 0-1), who completed the ninth, returned for the 10th. Lakeland loaded the bases with an intentional walk, sacrifice bunt and second intentional walk, and Policelli ended the game with a base hit up the middle.
The series continues in Lakeland on Friday at 6:30 p.m. RHP Deivi Garcia (0-0, -.--) will make his season debut against LHP Tarik Skubal (0-0, -.--). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tampa Tarpons Baseball Network.
Images from this story
 Tampa Tarpons pitcher Clarke Schmidt (Mark LoMoglio) |
Florida State League Stories from April 5, 2019
- Threshers Falter Late in Home-Opening Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- Fire Frogs Squeak Past Tortugas, 5-4, on "Hangover" Night - Daytona Tortugas
- Stone Crabs Fall Short in Fort Myers 4-3 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Miracle Down Charlotte, 4-3 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Valerio Lifts Marauders to 4-2 Win over Mets - St. Lucie Mets
- Schmidt, Mize Duel as Tarpons Fall in Lakeland on Opening Day - Tampa Tarpons
- Four-Hit Nights Not Enough in 11-3 Opening Night Loss - Charlotte Stone Crabs
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