Tampa Squanders 8-Run Lead in 12-11 Loss
July 27, 2018 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
Ronald Torreyes and Steven Sensley of the Tampa Tarpons
(Tampa Tarpons, Credit: Mark LoMoglio)
TAMPA, Fla. - After jumping out to an 11-3 lead in the fourth, the Tarpons were shut down by Palm Beach pitching as the Cardinals scored nine unanswered runs to steal a 12-11 win and even the series on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
At three hours and 18 minutes, it was the second-longest nine-inning game of the season for Tampa (17-17, 52-52) and featured a combined 21 hits and 20 walks as well as a season-high four converted double plays by the Tarpons infield.
LHP Dalton Lehnen allowed the first four batters of the game to reach and Palm Beach (16-18, 55-43) scored with an RBI single by Dylan Carlson and a sacrifice fly by Stefan Trosclair to take a 2-0 lead.
The Tarpons answered off RHP Evan Guillory in the home half. Estevan Florial doubled and Ronald Torreyes singled to begin the frame. Florial later scored on a groundout by Isiah Gilliam and Steven Sensley followed with a two-run blast to right, giving Tampa a 3-2 lead.
Carlson walked and scored on a double by Brian O'Keefe to tie the game in the third.
Guillory tossed a perfect second, but Tampa batted around to score five runs in the third, including a two-run single by Angel Aguilar and an RBI single by Ben Ruta. RHP Thomas St. Clair relived Guillory and was greeted by a two-run double by Kellin Deglan, giving the Tarpons an 8-3 lead.
Guillory logged his shortest outing of the season, yielding eight earned runs on six hits in two and two-third innings. The 22-year-old walked three, struck out one and threw 44 of 77 pitches for strikes.
St. Clair displayed command issues in the fourth and the Tarpons took advantage. After a double by Dom Thompson-Williams, Tampa pushed across three more runs when St. Clair walked five batters, putting the Tarpons up by eight. St. Clair threw just 19 of 49 pitches for strikes while walking six batters in one inning of work.
The Cardinals answered by sending all nine batters to the plate in the fifth. Carlson lined an RBI triple and, after a pair of walks loaded the bases, Trosclair added a two-run double. LHP Justin Kamplain relived Lehnen and a hit-batter reloaded the bases before an infield single by Irving Lopez made hit 11-7.
Lehnen allowed seven earned runs on six hits in four and a third innings, issuing a career-high six walks and no strikeouts on 87 pitches (44 strikes).
Kamplain worked around a single and a walk in the sixth before facing trouble in the seventh. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs and Lopez lined a two-run double into right. RHP Kyle Zurak entered and struck out Juan Yepez, but Chase Pinder followed with a go-ahead three-run homer to right.
Zurak (BS, 1)(L, 0-1) struck out the next two batters to end the inning and added one more strikeout while stranding a pair of walks in a scoreless eighth in his Tarpons debut.
RHP Bryan Dobzanski (W, 1-0) held Tampa to two base runners (a walk and an error) while tallying three strikeouts in three and a third scoreless innings in relief of St. Clair.
LHP Colton Thomson tossed a perfect eighth and continued into the ninth for Palm Beach. Ruta lined a leadoff single to left and later stole second, but Thomson (SV, 3) stranded the tying run by retiring the next three batters
RHP Andrew Schwaab struck out one in a 1-2-3 ninth inning for Tampa.
Sensley (1-for-3, HR, 2BB, 2RBI, 3R) hit his 14th homerun (fourth with Tampa) and his first multi-run homer. Ruta (2-for-4, BB, 2RBI, R, SB) logged his third-straight multi-hit game. Deglan (1-for-4, 2B, BB, 3RBI) paced the offense in RBI in his first game back with Tampa. Torreyes (2-for-6, R) had his first multi-hit game since joining the Tarpons.
Tampa's infield converted a season-high four double plays.
The series continues on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on "Macho Man Randy Savage Tribute Night." RHP Nick Nelson (5-3, 3.45) will make the start for Tampa against a Palm Beach starter that has yet to be determined. Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.
On "Salute to Service Members Saturday," all military receive a FREE upper reserved ticket with valid I.D. Also, select Tarpons players will be signing autographs on the concourse from 5:40-6:00 p.m.
Images from this story
 Steven Sensley of the Tampa Tarpons (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Ronald Torreyes and Steven Sensley of the Tampa Tarpons (Mark LoMoglio) |
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