T-Yanks Win 7-2 in Series Opener over Cubs
August 15, 2014 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (29-25) started a playoff push with a 7-2 win over the FSL North leading Daytona Cubs (30-21) on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. With 15 regular season games remaining, Tampa now sits two games back of first place.
RHP Brett Gerritse (4-7) dealt a quality start to earn the win. Gerritse yielded one run on three hits in six innings of work. The righty tied a season high with five strikeouts while not issuing a walk.
The Yankees jumped out to an early lead in the second inning against RHP Tyler Skulina. Aaron Judge and Jose Rosario started the frame with back-to-back singles. A wild pitch advanced both runners before Trent Garrison drove in Judge with a sacrifice fly to center.
Tampa tagged on another run in the third without the need of a hit. Reymond Nunez walked and a pitch hit Mark Payton, placing two runners on base. Cito Culver then laid down a sacrifice bunt and Eric Jagielo followed by driving in Nunez with a sac-fly to right, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead.
Daytona cut the lead in half in the fourth. Wes Darvill singled and stole second before Dan Vogelbach hit a ground-rule double over the wall in left.
The T-Yanks quickly responded with three more runs off Skulina in the home half of the fourth. Garrison singled to right and tried to score on a double to left by Angelo Gumbs. A relay throw gunned down Garrison at the plate and Gumbs took third. Ericson Leonora followed with an RBI single to left. One out later, Payton doubled into left. Kyle Schwarber misplayed the ball, allowing Leonora to score as Payton hustled to third. Culver then blooped an RBI single into shallow right-center.
Skulina (0-2) surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits in three and two-third innings, walking two while striking out a trio.
Tampa tacked on two runs of insurance in the eighth off RHP Michael Jensen. A single by Leonora and consecutive walks to Nunez and Payton loaded the bases with one out. Culver then delivered a two-run single, giving the Yankees a 7-1 lead.
LHP Ramon Benjamin earned his first save of the season for Tampa after dealing three innings of relief, allowing a run on three hits. A ninth inning RBI single by Billy Mckinney drove in Dan Vogelbach for the final run of the game.
Payton reached base four times, going 1-for-2 with a double and two walks. Culver picked up three RBI, going 2-for-4. Leonora scored twice and drove in a run in a 2-for-4 night. Nunez walked and scored twice out of the nine hole.
The series continues on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. as LHP Conner Kendrick (4-7, 5.92 ERA) takes the hill for Tampa. LHP Rob Zastryzny (2-6, 4.84 ERA) is scheduled to throw for Daytona.
Saturday is Friends and Family Day at George M. Steinbrenner Field, sponsored by Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. For just $38, a family of four can enjoy a four-pack of reserved tickets, hot dogs, chips sodas and Tampa Yankees caps as well as two passes to Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.
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