Sheffield Fans 11 in Debut as T-Yanks Beat

Published on August 5, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - Justus Sheffield did not disappoint in his debut with the Tampa Yankees (23-18, 65-45). The southpaw, acquired by the New York Yankees from the Cleveland Indians as part of the Andrew Miller deal, tallied a career-high 11 strikeouts and earned the win in a 7-1 final over the Daytona Tortugas (23-16, 59-49) on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Sheffield (W, 1-0) retired 15 of the 18 batters he faced. The 20-year-old allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk in six innings. Sheffield threw 58 of 88 pitches for strikes.

The only hiccup by Sheffield happened in the third inning when Yorman Rodriguez and Chadwick Tromp hit back-to-back doubles, giving Daytona a 1-0 lead. After allowing a walk by Avain Rachal, Sheffield sat down the next 12 batters in a row.

The Yankees took the lead against RHP Keury Mella in the fifth. A single, an error and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Wes Wilson lined an RBI single into left. Jorge Mateo followed with a go-ahead RBI single, giving Tampa a 2-1 advantage.

Trey Amburgey kept the sixth inning alive with a two-out single. Zack Zehner followed with an RBI double off the wall in left-center, adding to the Yankee lead.

Mella (L, 7-8) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings, walking two while striking out two. The righty-hander threw 51 of 79 pitches for strikes.

Tampa doubled its run total in the seventh against LHP Nolan Becker. Wilson and Rashad Crawford each singled before Gleyber Torres crushed a three-run home run over the left field wall.

Daytona loaded the bases with no outs against RHP Jordan Foley in the seventh. Foley struck out pinch-hitter Reydel Medina and got Tromp and Rachal to pop out to escape the jam.

Thairo Estrada drew a walk against LHP Juan Martinez to begin the bottom of the eighth and later scored the final Yankee run on a two-out RBI single by Crawford.

RHP Andrew Schwaab retired all six batters he faced, striking out two in a pair of scoreless relief innings.

Torres (2-for-4, HR, BB, 3RBI, R) collected his first home run with Tampa. Crawford (2-for-4, BB, RBI, R), Zehner (3-for-4, 2B, RBI, R) and Wilson (3-for-4, RBI, R) also had multi-hit games.

The series continues on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. with RHP Domingo German (0-0, 2.09 ERA) making the start for the Yankees against LHP Seth Varner (4-7, 4.19 ERA) for the Tortugas. The first 1,000 kids, ages 14 and younger, get a free backpack when the gates open at 4:30 p.m., courtesy of OneMain Financial. A fireworks show, presented by Bright House Networks, will follow the game.

Join Blue and his friends for a Back to School Party! The Tampa Kids Market will have vendors set up around the concourse with a DJ and live band. Players and coaches will be wearing custom jerseys, which will be auctioned during the game in a silent auction. Jersey auction proceeds & a portion of all ticket sales from the game will benefit Pediatric Cancer Research through the American Cancer Society.

Every Saturday Tampa Yankees home game, all military receive a FREE upper reserved ticket with valid I.D. Kids run the bases before the game from 5-5:15pm. Player Autographs on concourse from 5:10-5:30pm. **Ticket special can ONLY be redeemed at the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Florida State League Stories from August 5, 2016


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