Tampa Stomps Fort Myers with Season-High 13

July 14, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (11-10, 53-37) exploded for a season-best 13 runs on 16 hits in a 13-6 win over the Fort Myers Miracle (12-9, 46-44) on Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

16 hits ties a season-high for Tampa, which first accomplished the feat on May 19th in a 12-2 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads. The Yankees have now scored a total of 21 runs on 31 hits in the last two games.

Fort Myers gained an early lead against LHP James Reeves in the top of the first.

A pair of singles and a hit-batter loaded the bases with out and LaMonte Wade reached on an error at second base by Thairo Estrada, allowing two runs to score. A.J. Murray followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, giving the Miracle a 3-0 lead.

The Yankees responded by sending all nine batters to the plate against LHP Randy Rosario in the bottom of the first.

Estrada doubled and scored as Trey Amburgey reached on a two-base throwing by shortstop Nick Gordon. Zack Zehner walked and Abiatal Avelino doubled home Amburgey. Kevin Cornelius tied the score with an RBI groundout to second base and Vicente Conde hit a go-ahead, RBI ground-rule double, giving Tampa a 4-3 lead.

The big offensive inning for the Yankees happened in the fourth, with Tampa scoring six runs on six hits, tying a season-best for hits in one inning.

Wes Wilson hit a leadoff single and advanced to third on a double by Mason Williams. After Jake Skole entered as a pinch runner for Williams, Estrada singled home Wilson. An infield single by Amburgey allowed Skole to score and prompted a pitching change by Fort Myers.

RHP Brandon Peterson relieved Rosario and issued a walk to Zehner. One out later, Cornelius lined a two-run double into the left field corner. Following the second out, Connor Spencer drove home two more runs with a single into center field, giving the Yankees a 10-3 lead.

Rosario (L, 5-6) allowed eight runs (five earned) on nine hits in three-plus innings. The southpaw walked two, struck out one and threw 41 of 85 pitches for strikes.

Fort Myers placed two runners on base with one out in the fifth before Reeves was lifted for a reliever. RHP Jordan Foley (W, 4-0) entered and allowed an RBI singe by Wade before retiring the next two hitters.

Reeves allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits, a walk and two hit-batters in four and a third innings. The lefty tallied four strikeouts and tossed 49 of 74 pitches for strikes, taking a no-decision.

Tampa got the run back with a leadoff home run by Skole. His sixth long-ball of the season towered over the Walgreen's Deck and left the park in right field.

RHP Gabriel Encinas entered in the seventh and allowed a run on two hits, two walks and a strikeout in two relief innings.

The Yankees scored their final two runs off RHP Luke Bard in the bottom of the seventh. Zehner and Avelino walked and both scored on a two-out RBI double by Conde, giving Tampa a 13-5 advantage.

RHP Joey Maher allowed a run on one and a pair of walks while closing out the game in the ninth.

Cornelius (3-for-5, 2 2B, 3RBI, R) and Conde (3-for-5, 2 2B, 3RBI) paced the offense. Estrada (2-for-6, 2B, RBI, 2R), Spencer (2-for-4, 2B, 2RBI) and Wilson (2-for-5, R) also recorded multi-hit games. Zehner (0-for-1, 4BB, 3R) reached base four times, but snapped his hitting streak at 15 games.

The series continues on Friday at 7:00 p.m. with RHP Domingo Acevedo (1-for-2, 3.14 ERA) starting for Tampa against RHP Randy LeBlanc (2-3, 3.71 ERA) for Fort Myers.

Every Friday Tampa Yankees home game, for $15, fans can get a lower reserved ticket and all-you-can-eat chicken wings from 6:00pm-8:00pm. All fans can enjoy 1/2 price alcoholic drinks and regular soda from 6:00pm-8:00pm. **Ticket and food Special can ONLY be purchased at the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Florida State League Stories from July 14, 2016


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