T-Yanks Drop Rain-Shortened Game to Miracle
Published on July 15, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - Lightning lit up the night sky and rain poured down in the seventh inning, leading the umpires to call the game "official" with the Tampa Yankees (11-11, 53-38) losing to the Fort Myers Miracle (13-9, 47-44), 4-3, on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
RHP Domingo Acevedo made the start for Tampa and ran into early trouble. Chris Paul drew a one-out walk and promptly stole second before scoring on a base hit by Nick Gordon, giving the Miracle a 1-0 lead.
The T-Yanks answered in the home half of the first, tying the game against RHP Randy LeBlanc. Thairo Estrada lined a one-out single to left and scored from first base as Trey Amburgey hooked a double into the left field corner.
More trouble arose for Acevedo in the second. LaMonte Wade walked and A.J. Murray doubled, placing runners at second and third. Both scored on a double off the left field wall by Joe Maloney. Later in the inning, Maloney scored on a single by Daniel Kihle, giving Fort Myers a 4-1 advantage.
Acevedo (L, 1-3) retired the next nine batters he faced. The right-hander pitched through the sixth inning, tallying nine strikeouts. In total, Acevedo allowed four earned runs on six hits, two walks and a hit-batter, throwing 67 of 97 pitches for strikes.
Tampa cut into the deficit in the fifth. Jake Skole reached on a hit-by-pitch and Francisco Diaz and Mason Williams both singled, loading the bases with no outs. Estrada hit a fly ball to right and Skole scored as Maloney dropped the baseball before throwing to second, forcing out Williams. Diaz then scored as Amburgey grounded a ball to third and reached on an error by third-baseman Chris Paul.
LeBlanc (W, 3-3) held Tampa to three runs (two earned) on four hits, a walk and a hit-batter in six innings. The righty struck out four and threw 59 of 96 pitches for strikes.
RHP Willie Gabay relieved Acevedo in the seventh, striking out a pair in a 1-2-3 frame.
Lightning and rain prompted a delay in the middle of the seventh. The Yankees never got bat again as the game was called due to persistent rain.
Estrada (1-for-3, RBI, R) has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .348 (16-for-46) in that span. Amburgey (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) recorded his first multi-RBI game with Tampa. Zack Zehner (0-for-3) snapped his on-base streak at 22 games.
The series wraps up on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. on "ALS Night." LHP Josh Rogers (5-4, 3.12 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Tampa against LHP Sam Clay (1-0, 3.60 ERA) for Fort Myers.
Florida State League Stories from July 15, 2016
- Threshers Top Cardinals in 13 Innings - Clearwater Threshers
- Palm Beach Loses in Extra Innings - Palm Beach Cardinals
- T-Yanks Drop Rain-Shortened Game to Miracle - Tampa Yankees
- Leblanc, Miracle Halt Losing Streak in 4-3 Win - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
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