Tampa Drops Opener to Fire Frogs, 10-6
Published on May 10, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - An early seesaw affair ended in a 10-6 defeat as the Tampa Tarpons (18-16) dropped the series opener to the Florida Fire Frogs (14-20) on Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Greg Bird and Billy McKinney both began their rehab assignments with the Tarpons. Bird (0-for-3, RBI) started at first base and played five innings while McKinney (0-for-1, 2BB) patrolled left field for seven frames. Bird is returning from surgery on his right ankle while McKinney makes his way back from a left shoulder sprain.
Nick Green tossed a perfect first inning before the Fire Frogs struck in the second.
Garrison Schwartz reached on a swinging bunt and advanced to third with the combination of a wild pitch and a throwing error. Alejandro Salazar cashed in the unearned run with a sacrifice fly.
Florida formed a two-out rally to add on in the third. Cristian Pache singled and advanced on an error before scoring on a double by Taylor Murphy. After a walk by Brett Cumberland, Murphy scored on a single by Schwartz.
Tampa managed to tie the score against Florida starter Tucker Davidson in the home half of the third. Nathaniel Coronado and Keith Skinner both walked and Estevan Florial chopped an infield single, loading the bases. Coronado crossed the plate on a groundout by Bird. A walk by McKinney reloaded the bags and Isiah Gilliam lined a two-run single into right-center.
Ray Patrick-Didder legged out an infield single in the fourth and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Pache, putting Florida up, 4-3.
The Tarpons answered with four-straight hits off Davidson to begin the bottom of the fourth, including a two-run triple by Angel Aguilar and an RBI single by Coronado, giving Tampa a 6-4 lead.
The lead was short-lived as the Fire Frogs rallied again in the fifth. With two outs and a runner at third, Braxton Davidson reached on a strikeout/wild pitch as the run scored. A bunt single by Didder followed and an RBI single by Kevin Josephina tied the game. Lucas Herbert then gave Florida back the lead with an RBI single. RHP Paul Young relieved Green and got Pache to ground out, ending the inning.
Green (L, 3-1) logged his shortest start of the season, yielding a season-high seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits in four and two-third innings. The righty walked three, struck out five and threw 49 of 85 pitches for strikes.
Davidson (W, 1-4) ended his outing by facing the minimum in the fifth. The southpaw allowed six earned runs on six hits in five innings, walking four while striking out two and threw 54 of 92 pitches for strikes.
Florida added insurance in the seventh when Herbert clubbed an opposite field, two-out, three-run homer off Young.
RHP Sean McLaughlin (H, 1) held Tampa to one hit over three scoreless relief innings and RHP Mauricio Cabrera worked around a hit and a walk while striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth.
RHP Matt Wivinis made his Tarpons debut by striking out the side in a perfect eighth and adding two more punch outs while stranding a pair in the ninth.
Florial (2-for-5, 2B, R) extended his on-base streak to 27-consecutive games. Aguilar (1-for-4, 3B, 2RBI, R) leads the Florida State League with four triples. Gilliam (1-for-4, 2RBI) leads the team with 21RBI.
The Tarpons will look to bounce when the series continues on Friday at 6:30 p.m. RHP Nick Nelson (0-1, 9.00 ERA) is slated to start for Tampa against LHP Joey Wentz (1-1, 2.33). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.
On "Thirsty Fish Fryday," fans can enjoy seafood specials all night long, including: $7 popcorn shrimp combo, $8 buffalo popcorn shrimp combo and $9 beer battered fish. Fans can also enjoy $3 16oz. draft Budweiser/Bud Light, $1 small fountain drinks and 1/2 price wine from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from May 10, 2018
- Tampa Drops Opener to Fire Frogs, 10-6 - Tampa Tarpons
- Miracle Squander Big Lead In 8-6 Loss - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Fire Frogs Take Wild One over Tarpons - Florida Fire Frogs
- Threshers Pitching K's 18 in Extra-Inning Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- 9TH Inning Rally Not Enough in Series Opening Loss - Jupiter Hammerheads
- Mets Earn 4-3 Walk-Off Win against Flying Tigers - St. Lucie Mets
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: May 10, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
