Tampa Takes Opener Versus Florida
June 20, 2017 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - Taylor Widener fired six strong innings and the Tampa Yankees (37-31) held on to defeat the Florida Fire Frogs (25-39), 4-2, in the series-opener on Monday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field
Soon after Tampa's victory, the Clearwater Threshers kept pace by defeating the Bradenton Marauders, 3-1 at Spectrum Field. The Yankees and Threshers remain tied for first in the Florida State League North with two games two play. Clearwater owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Florida grabbed an early lead off Widener in the first. Anfernee Seymour lined a single into center, stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw by catcher Sharif Othman . A groundout by Tyler Neslony scored the run and Carlos Castro followed with a double into right field before a pop out and a strikeout ended the frame.
Widener (W, 4-6) bounced back and faced two batters over the minimum the rest of the way. The 22-year-old held the Fire Frogs to one earned run on two hits in his first-career quality start. Widener walked two and struck out four while throwing 51 of a season-high 82 pitches for strikes.
The T-Yanks promptly tied the game in the bottom of the first when Jorge Mateo hustled for a leadoff double, tagged to third on a fly out by Kyle Holder and scored on a blooper into left by Tito Polo .
Tampa loaded the bases with nobody out in the home half of the second, but Florida starter Touki Toussaint weaseled out of the jam with a strikeout and a double play.
After leaving runners on in the following two frames, the Yankees broke the tie against Toussaint in the fifth. Holder singled and Polo doubled, placing runners at second and third with no outs. Jhalan Jackson scored Holder with a groundout, giving Tampa the lead. One out later, Gosuke Katoh drew a walk and Jeff Hendrix singled into center, plating Polo before Katoh was caught out stretching for third base.
Toussaint (L, 1-8) allowed three earned runs on seven hits in five innings, walking five while striking out five and throwing 55 of 95 pitches for strikes.
Nick Solak slapped a solo home run over the short porch in right field off reliever A.J. Minter in the seventh, padding the Yankee lead. It was Solak's fourth of the season.
RHP Jordan Foley (H, 1) tossed a scoreless seventh before finding trouble in the eighth. Seymour singled, stole second and later scored on a two-out RBI single by Castro. After a walk by Austin Riley, RHP Anyelo Gomez entered and got Alex Jackson to pop out, leaving the tying runs on base.
Gomez (SV, 2) got into his own jam in the ninth when a leadoff walk and a double placed the tying runs in scoring position with no outs. The 24-year-old proceeded to strike out the next three batters, securing his second-straight save.
Polo (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, R, SB), Solak (2-for-3, HR, BB, RBI, R, SB) and Othman (2-for-3, BB) all recorded multi-hit games. Mateo (1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB) tallied his 24th stolen base.
The series continues on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Florida will send up LHP Ricardo Sanchez (3-6, 3.99 ERA) as Tampa's starter is TBA. On BOGO Burgers Tuesday, fans can enjoy a "buy one, get one free" deal on burgers all night. For tickets and promotional information, call (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tybaseball.com .
in the fifth. Holder singled and Polo doubled, placing runners at second and third with no outs. Jhalan Jackson scored Holder with a groundout, giving Tampa the lead. One out later, Gosuke Katoh drew a walk and Jeff Hendrix singled into center, plating Polo before Katoh was caught out stretching for third base.
Toussaint (L, 1-8) allowed three earned runs on seven hits in five innings, walking five while striking out five and throwing 55 of 95 pitches for strikes.
Nick Solak slapped a solo home run over the short porch in right field off reliever A.J. Minter in the seventh, padding the Yankee lead. It was Solak's fourth of the season.
RHP Jordan Foley (H, 1) tossed a scoreless seventh before finding trouble in the eighth. Seymour singled, stole second and later scored on a two-out RBI single by Castro. After a walk by Austin Riley, RHP Anyelo Gomez entered and got Alex Jackson to pop out, leaving the tying runs on base.
Gomez (SV, 2) got into his own jam in the ninth when a leadoff walk and a double placed the tying runs in scoring position with no outs. The 24-year-old proceeded to strike out the next three batters, securing his second-straight save.
Polo (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, R, SB), Solak (2-for-3, HR, BB, RBI, R, SB) and Othman (2-for-3, BB) all recorded multi-hit games. Mateo (1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB) tallied his 24th stolen base.
The series continues on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Florida will send up LHP Ricardo Sanchez (3-6, 3.99 ERA) as Tampa's starter is TBA. On BOGO Burgers Tuesday, fans can enjoy a "buy one, get one free" deal on burgers all night. For tickets and promotional information, call (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tybaseball.com ..
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