Serna's Seven RBI Not Enough, Tarpons Lose Slugfest, 14-12
July 14, 2023 - Florida State League (FSL)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
Tampa Tarpons' Jared Serna at bat
(Tampa Tarpons)
TAMPA, Fla. - The boys are back in town. After spending ten days away from George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Tampa Tarpons (9-7) returned home Friday night and dropped the first game of a short three-game set to the Lakeland Flying Tigers (11-5). Despite SS Jared Serna's two-homer and seven RBI performance, Lakeland extended their winning streak to eleven games. Tampa rallied in the ninth, putting the tying runs on first and second, but an unsuccessful double steal attempt ended their rally.
CF Greg Allen started his MLB rehab stint (right hip flexor strain) in Tampa, going 2-for-3 while playing five innings in center field. The switch hitter's first at-bat came from the right side. Allen lined a 104 MPH single to left field. After grounding out in his second trip to the plate, Allen laced another single (103 MPH) to center field.
Even with Lakeland putting up a crooked number, RHP Leonardo Pestana (2.1IP, H, 2R, 2BB, 3K) looked solid on the hill for Tampa. He only gave up one hit while fanning three in his two plus innings of work. Pestana used his slider, cutter, and fastball to hold down the Flying Tigers. Lakeland batters averaged an exit velocity of 82.6 MPH off Pestana.
The Flying Tigers scored two runs in the second inning after loading the bases. Mike Rothenberg walked, Abel Bastidas lined a single to right field, and Cristian Santana drew another free pass. Pestana struck out Manuel Saquera on a wild pitch to the backstop, which allowed Rothenberg to cross the plate as the game's first run. A balk brought in the second run of the frame. Serna ended the frame with a superb diving play. He ranged into the hole, made a full-body dive, and popped up to throw out J.D. McLaughlin as the crowd went wild.
The Tarpons' offense woke up from their All-Star break slumber in the second. DH Omar Martinez continued his hot streak out of the break, belting his seventh longball of the year over the wall in right field to bring Tampa within one. 3B Brett Barrera walked and advanced to third on a base hit off the bat of 1B Ronny Rojas. RF Felix Negueis knotted the game at two with a 100 MPH RBI single to left. The scoring did not stop there. Serna launched a 367-foot home run to cap off Tampa's five-run second inning.
Lakeland batted around when RHP Kris Bow lost command in the fourth. After Mike Rothenberg singled, Bow loaded the bases with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Bow plunked his second batter in a row, which pulled Lakeland to within two. With the bases still juiced, Seth Stephenson grounded out to third, allowing the tying run to come in to score. Lakeland regained the lead on a SAC-fly to right field from Luke Gold. Andrew Jenkins doubled to continue the nightmare inning. Jose De La Cruz added yet another run on an RBI single past the diving glove of Rojas.
The rehab duo of Allen and C Ben Rice cut the Flying Tigers' lead to one in the fifth. Allen singled, and Rice blasted a no-doubt 399-foot home run. It was Rice's second long ball in his rehab stint with the Tarpons.
Seth Stephenson hugged a sixth-inning leadoff double down the line that rolled into the left-field corner. A hit-by-pitch and walk followed to load the bases. The struggles continued for Tampa's pitching staff as De La Cruz lifted a grand slam over the right-center wall to extend the lead to five.
After giving up another run in the top of the seventh, Negueis led off the home half with a walk, which turned the lineup over to Serna. Serna mashed his second round tripper of the night, giving him a league-leading 16 home runs.
After two quick outs in the eighth, Rojas walked, and Negueis reached base for the third time when he got drilled by a sinker. Serna stepped up to the plate and came through once again. A two-RBI single to left field brought Tampa back to within two, giving Serna a whopping seven RBI on the night. Serna also leads the Florida State League with 58 RBI.
Tampa would not go down without a fight. Down three in the ninth, Rice singled, Rodriguez walked, and Escanio walked to load the bases. Brett Barrera hit a SAC-fly to trim the deficit to two. With two outs, LF Jesus Rodriguez on second, and 2B Brenny Escanio on first, Tampa elected to try for a double steal. Rodriguez was thrown out at third and Tampa's hopes of a rally went to the wayside, ending the slugfest.
The Tarpons will face the Flying Tigers for the middle game of the three-game set tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. LHP Brock Selvidge will take the ball for Latin Heritage Night at GMS Field.
Lakeland Flying Tigers 14, Tampa Tarpons 12
Jul 14th, 2023
Flying Tigers starting lineup:
Seth Stephenson (CF), Luke Gold (3B), Andrew Jenkins (1B), Jose De La Cruz (DH), Mike Rothenberg (C),
Abel Bastidas (SS), Cristian Santana (2B), Manuel Sequera (LF), J.D. McLaughlin (RF), Jake Higginbotham
(P),
Tarpons starting lineup:
Jared Serna (SS), Greg Allen (CF), Ben Rice (C), Jesus Rodriguez (LF), Omar Martinez (DH), Brenny Escanio
(2B), Brett Barrera (3B), Ronny Rojas (1B), Felix Negueis (RF), Leonardo Pestana (P),
Umpires -- HP: Davion Frye. 1B: Alex Lawrie.
Gametime Weather: 92 degrees, Cloudy
Wind: 10 mph, Out To RF
First pitch by Leonardo Pestana at 6:30 PM local time.
Flying Tigers 1st (Flying Tigers 0, Tarpons 0) -- Seth Stephenson grounds out, Jared Serna to Ronny Rojas.
Luke Gold grounds out, Jared Serna to Ronny Rojas. Andrew Jenkins grounds out, Leonardo Pestana to
Ronny Rojas.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Tarpons 1st (Flying Tigers 0, Tarpons 0) -- Jared Serna grounds out, Abel Bastidas to Andrew Jenkins.
Greg Allen singles to left field. Ben Rice pops out to Abel Bastidas. Jesus Rodriguez flies out to J.D.
McLaughlin.
(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Flying Tigers 2nd (Flying Tigers 2, Tarpons 0) -- Jose De La Cruz struck out looking. Mike Rothenberg
walks. Abel Bastidas singles to right field, Mike Rothenberg to 2nd. Cristian Santana walks, Mike
Rothenberg to 3rd; Abel Bastidas to 2nd. Manuel Sequera strikes out swinging, Mike Rothenberg scores;
Abel Bastidas to 3rd; Cristian Santana to 2nd;wild pitch by Leonardo Pestana. Abel Bastidas scores on a
balk; Cristian Santana advances to 3rd on a balk. J.D. McLaughlin grounds out, Jared Serna to Ronny
Rojas.
(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Tarpons 2nd (Tarpons 5, Flying Tigers 2) -- Pitcher Change: Ulices Campos replaces Jake Higginbotham.
Omar Martinez hits a home run to right field on a 3-2 pitch. Brenny Escanio flies out to Manuel Sequera.
Brett Barrera walks. Ronny Rojas singles to right field, Brett Barrera to 3rd. Felix Negueis singles to left
field, Brett Barrera scores; Ronny Rojas to 2nd. Jared Serna hits a home run to right field on a 1-0 pitch,
Ronny Rojas scores; Felix Negueis scores. Greg Allen grounds out, Cristian Santana to Andrew Jenkins.
Pitcher Change: Jesus Cruz replaces Ulices Campos. Ben Rice flies out to Seth Stephenson.
(5 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Flying Tigers 3rd (Tarpons 5, Flying Tigers 2) -- Seth Stephenson reaches on throwing error by Jared
Serna, Seth Stephenson to 2nd. Luke Gold strikes out swinging. Pitcher Change: Kris Bow replaces
Leonardo Pestana. Seth Stephenson picked off and caught stealing 3rd base, Kris Bow to Brenny Escanio
to Brett Barrera to Jared Serna to Brenny Escanio. Andrew Jenkins singles to shallow center field. Jose
De La Cruz flies out to Felix Negueis.
(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)
Tarpons 3rd (Tarpons 5, Flying Tigers 2) -- Jesus Rodriguez singles to left field. Omar Martinez lines into
double play, Cristian Santana to Andrew Jenkins, Jesus Rodriguez out at 1st. Brenny Escanio grounds out,
Cristian Santana to Andrew Jenkins.
(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Flying Tigers 4th (Flying Tigers 8, Tarpons 5) -- Mike Rothenberg singles to right field. Abel Bastidas
walks, Mike Rothenberg to 2nd. Cristian Santana hit by pitch, Mike Rothenberg to 3rd; Abel Bastidas to
2nd. Manuel Sequera hit by pitch, Mike Rothenberg scores; Abel Bastidas to 3rd; Cristian Santana to
2nd. J.D. McLaughlin hit by pitch, Abel Bastidas scores; Cristian Santana to 3rd; Manuel Sequera to 2nd.
Seth Stephenson grounds out, Brett Barrera to Ronny Rojas, Cristian Santana scores; Manuel Sequera to
3rd; J.D. McLaughlin to 2nd. Luke Gold out on a sacrifice fly to Felix Negueis, Manuel Sequera scores; J.D.
McLaughlin to 3rd. Andrew Jenkins doubles to right field, J.D. McLaughlin scores. Jose De La Cruz singles
to right field, Andrew Jenkins scores. Pitcher Change: Shane Gray replaces Kris Bow. Mike Rothenberg
walks, Jose De La Cruz to 2nd. Abel Bastidas flies out to Jesus Rodriguez.
(6 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Tarpons 4th (Flying Tigers 8, Tarpons 5) -- Pitcher Change: Eric Mendez replaces Jesus Cruz. Brett Barrera
lines out to J.D. McLaughlin. Ronny Rojas flies out to Manuel Sequera. Felix Negueis strikes out swinging.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Flying Tigers 5th (Flying Tigers 8, Tarpons 5) -- Cristian Santana reaches on throwing error by Ronny
Rojas. Manuel Sequera grounds into double play, Brett Barrera to Brenny Escanio to Ronny Rojas,
Cristian Santana out at 2nd, Manuel Sequera out at 1st. J.D. McLaughlin grounds out to Ronny Rojas.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB)
Tarpons 5th (Flying Tigers 8, Tarpons 7) -- Jared Serna grounds out, Abel Bastidas to Andrew Jenkins.
Greg Allen singles to right-center field. Ben Rice hits a home run to right field on a 1-0 pitch, Greg Allen
scores. Jesus Rodriguez grounds out, Cristian Santana to Andrew Jenkins. Omar Martinez grounds out,
Eric Mendez to Andrew Jenkins.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Flying Tigers 6th (Flying Tigers 12, Tarpons 7) -- Defensive Substitution: Daury Arias replaces center
fielder Greg Allen, batting 2nd, playing center field. Pitcher Change: Manny Ramirez replaces Shane
Gray. Seth Stephenson doubles to left field. Luke Gold hit by pitch. Andrew Jenkins walks, Seth
Stephenson to 3rd; Luke Gold to 2nd. Jose De La Cruz hits a grand slam to right field on a 2-2 pitch, Seth
Stephenson scores; Luke Gold scores; Andrew Jenkins scores. Mike Rothenberg walks. Abel Bastidas
walks, Mike Rothenberg to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Yorlin Calderon replaces Manny Ramirez. Cristian
Santana strikes out swinging. Manuel Sequera singles to right-center field, Mike Rothenberg to 3rd; Abel
Bastidas to 2nd. J.D. McLaughlin strikes out swinging. Seth Stephenson strikes out swinging.
(4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)
Tarpons 6th (Flying Tigers 12, Tarpons 7) -- Pitcher Change: Quinn Gudaitis replaces Eric Mendez. Brenny
Escanio grounds out, Abel Bastidas to Andrew Jenkins. Brett Barrera flies out to J.D. McLaughlin. Ronny
Rojas flies out to Manuel Sequera.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Flying Tigers 7th (Flying Tigers 13, Tarpons 7) -- Luke Gold struck out looking. Andrew Jenkins doubles to
center field. Jose De La Cruz strikes out swinging. Mike Rothenberg doubles to left-center field, Andrew
Jenkins scores. Abel Bastidas flies out to Jared Serna.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Tarpons 7th (Flying Tigers 13, Tarpons 9) -- Felix Negueis walks. Jared Serna hits a home run to left field
on a 1-2 pitch, Felix Negueis scores. Daury Arias walks. Ben Rice flies out to J.D. McLaughlin. Jesus
Rodriguez singles to left-center field, Daury Arias to 2nd. Omar Martinez grounds into double play,
Cristian Santana to Abel Bastidas to Andrew Jenkins, Jesus Rodriguez out at 2nd, Omar Martinez out at
1st.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Flying Tigers 8th (Flying Tigers 13, Tarpons 9) -- Pitcher Change: Alex Bustamante replaces Yorlin
Calderon. Cristian Santana strikes out swinging. Manuel Sequera grounds out, Brett Barrera to Ronny
Rojas. J.D. McLaughlin grounds out, Brenny Escanio to Ronny Rojas.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Tarpons 8th (Flying Tigers 13, Tarpons 11) -- Pitcher Change: Jose Diaz replaces Quinn Gudaitis. Brenny
Escanio walks. Jose Diaz picks off Brenny Escanio at on throw to Andrew Jenkins. Brett Barrera grounds
out, Cristian Santana to Andrew Jenkins. Ronny Rojas walks. Wild pitch by Jose Diaz, Ronny Rojas to 2nd.
Felix Negueis hit by pitch. Wild pitch by Jose Diaz, Ronny Rojas to 3rd; Felix Negueis to 2nd. Jared Serna
singles through the hole at shortstop, Ronny Rojas scores; Felix Negueis scores. Daury Arias grounds into
a force out, fielded by Abel Bastidas, Jared Serna out at 2nd.
(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Flying Tigers 9th (Flying Tigers 14, Tarpons 11) -- Seth Stephenson singles to deep shortstop. Luke Gold
grounds out, Jared Serna to Ronny Rojas, Seth Stephenson to 2nd. Tarpons challenged (pitch result), call
on the field was overturned: Andrew Jenkins struck out looking. Jose De La Cruz doubles to center field,
Seth Stephenson scores. Mike Rothenberg strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Tarpons 9th (Flying Tigers 14, Tarpons 12) -- Pitcher Change: Max Alba replaces Jose Diaz. Ben Rice
singles up the middle. Jesus Rodriguez walks, Ben Rice to 2nd. Omar Martinez lines out to Manuel
Sequera, Ben Rice to 3rd. Brenny Escanio walks, Jesus Rodriguez to 2nd. Brett Barrera out on a sacrifice
fly to Seth Stephenson, Ben Rice scores. Jesus Rodriguez caught stealing 3rd base, Mike Rothenberg to
Luke Gold.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Final: Lakeland Flying Tigers 14, Tampa Tarpons 12
WP: Jesus Cruz (2 - 0)
LP: Kris Bow (2 - 3)
SV: Max Alba (3)
Time: 3:03
Attendance: 1,160
Images from this story
 Tampa Tarpons' Jared Serna at bat |
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