T-Yanks Fall in Season Finale, 3-2
September 6, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
TAMPA - The Tampa Yankees (32-36, 66-72) finished off the 2015 season with a loss, 3-2, to the Lakeland Flying Tigers (22-43, 55-79-1) on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
RHP Gabriel Encinas got the start and surrendered an early lead to the Flying Tigers in the first. Ismael Salgado and Raph Rhymes each singled and Javier Betancourt followed by reaching on an RBI fielder's choice, giving Lakeland a 1-0 lead.
The first two batters reached for the Flying Tigers in the third and a pair of wild pitches allowed a run to score before Encinas struck out the side.
Encinas (3-7) allowed two runs on five hits in five innings, walking five batters while tallying four strikeouts.
Joey Falcone put the Yankees on the board in the fifth by crushing his first Tampa home run into the Walgreens Deck. The solo bomb cut the deficit in half, 2-1.
Lakeland answered in the sixth against RHP Chad Martin. Jared Reaves hit a leadoff double and later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Flying Tigers back a two-run lead.
Tampa greeted reliever Julio Felix with three consecutive base runners in the bottom of the sixth. Dustin Fowler singled and Miguel Andujar walked before Ericson Leonora hit an RBI double to right.
LHP Tyler Ford entered and walked Chris Gittens, loading the bases with no outs. The Yankees failed to score, though, as Ford used a pair of pop-outs and a strikeout to strand three.
RHP Gage Smith held Tampa scoreless in the final two innings, striking out three while working around a single and a walk in his first save with Lakeland.
Briceno (2-3) held the Yankees to two runs on six hits in five innings, walking a pair while striking out three.
LHP Caleb Frare (H, BB, K) tossed a scoreless relief inning for Tampa and RHP Manolo Reyes (1 IP, BB, 3K) struck out the side in the ninth.
Fowler (3-for-5, R) singled in his final three at-bats of the game. Leonora (1-for-3, 2B, BB, RBI) tallied his team-high 63rd RBI. Falcone (1-for-3, HR, BB, RBI, R) collected his first Tampa Yankee home run and RBI.
The Tampa Yankees will be back in action in April for the 2016 Florida State League season.
Florida State League Stories from September 6, 2015
- 'Tugas Enter Playoffs on 5-Game Win Streak - Daytona Tortugas
- T-Yanks Fall in Season Finale, 3-2 - Tampa Yankees
- Marauders Close Season with Win - Bradenton Marauders
- Clearwater Clinches Both Halves with 2-1 Win - Clearwater Threshers
- Crabs Take Season Finale, 5-1, at Hammond Stadium - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Mets Finish Season with 6-2 Loss to Marauders - St. Lucie Mets
- D-Jays Lead Short Lived in 6-1 Loss to Threshers - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Threshers to Attack Tortugas in Playoffs - Clearwater Threshers
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