T-Yanks Clinch Playoff Berth with 3-2 Marathon Win in Lakeland
June 17, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
LAKELAND, Fla. - Entering Thursday, the Tampa Yankees (41-25) required a win and a Clearwater loss to clinch the Florida State League First-Half North Division. Soon after the Dunedin Blue Jays assisted with the latter, Tampa defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers (33-32) in 18 innings, 3-2, thanks to a game-winning RBI single by Abiatal Avelino at Historic Henley Field.
The playoff birth is the first for Tampa since 2010, when the T-Yanks defeated the Charlotte Stone Crabs, three games to one, to win the FSL Championship.
James Reeves made his third start and held the Flying Tigers scoreless in a career-long five and a third innings pitched. The southpaw permitted just one base-runner, a fourth-inning bunt single by A.J. Simcox, and tallied six strikeouts in the no-decision.
Tampa struck first with the help of a Lakeland miscue in the fourth. Connor Spencer reached on a hit-by-pitch with one out and advanced to second on a single to center by Zack Zehner. One out later, Zac Shepherd misplayed a Wes Wilson groundball to third, allowing Spencer to score.
Devyn Bolasky and Thairo Estrada hit back-to-back singles to begin the top of the fourth, placing runners on the corners. Avelino collected his first RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to left, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead.
Lakeland starter Jairo Labourt allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings. The right-hander gave up four hits and one walk, striking out six in a no-decision.
RHP Jordan Foley relieved Reeves with one out in the sixth and retired five of six batters faced, allowing a hit and striking out three over an inning and a third. RHP Dillon McNamara (BS, 2) worked around a leadoff walk in the eighth before running into trouble in the final inning of regulation.
Ismael Salgado hit a leadoff double to start the Lakeland rally. One out later, a hit-batter and an infield single loaded the bases. McNamara struck out Mike Gerber for the second out, but Joey Pankake tied the game with a two-run single to left. A walk by Shepherd reloaded the bags before RHP Jonny Drozd entered and got Wade Hinkle to fly out, sending the game into extra innings.
The game remained knotted, 2-2, into the 14th inning. Meanwhile, at Bright House Field, Dunedin completed a shutout, 4-0, over the Clearwater.
In the top of the 18th, Joe Rogers (L, 0-1) entered as the sixth Lakeland pitcher and Estrada greeted the southpaw with a double to left. Austin Aune then popped an infield single to shortstop, placing the go-ahead run at third. Avelino followed with his heroic swing, scoring Estrada with a line drive to center.
Gabriel Encinas (W, 1-3) stranded a pair of walks in the 17th before working around a single and a free pass in the 18th to close out the win. The righty struck out three in his first win of the season.
Eight Tampa pitchers combined to tally 23 strikeouts. RHP Joey Maher walked two and struck out one in an inning and a third. RHP Travis Hissong recorded the final two outs in the 13th, striking out one. RHP Angel Rincon worked three scoreless frames, allowing a pair of singles while striking out four.
Bolasky (3-for-8, 2B, R), Estrada (2-for-6, 2B, R, 2HBP) and Jorge Mateo (2-for-7, 2B, BB) logged multi-hit games. Avelino (1-for-6, BB, 2RBI) collected is 20th and 21st runs batted in.
Following the FSL All-Star Break this weekend in Fort Myers, the Yankees wrap up the first-half schedule with a three-game series against the Daytona Tortugas, beginning Monday night in Daytona Beach at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The second-half starts on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. when Tampa hosts the Dunedin Blue Jays.
Florida State League Stories from June 17, 2016
- Stone Crabs Send Six to All-Star Game - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- T-Yanks Clinch Playoff Berth with 3-2 Marathon Win in Lakeland - Tampa Yankees
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