Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: at Dunedin
Published on July 20, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
7/20 Tampa at Dunedin - Game 2 (of three) - Dunedin Stadium (Dunedin, FL) - 6:30 p.m.
Pitching Matchup: RHP Rony Garcia (0-1, 6.00) vs. RHP Roberto Osuna (MLB Rehab) / RHP Connor Eller (5-2, 2.70) Live Audio: TuneIn Radio (Tampa Tarpons Broadcast Network)
LAST NIGHT: The Tarpons made it back-to-back wins by taking the series-opener in Dunedin, 4-2...Angel Aguilar (2-for-5, 3B, 2RBI, R) and Rashad Crawford (1-for-3, 2B, BB, 2RBI) combined to drive in all four runs, including two in the 2nd and two in the 6th...RHP Luis Rijo (W, 1-0) logged a quality start in his Tarpons debut (6.0IP, 6H, 2ER, 0BB, 3K, 84P/63S)...Estevan Florial (1-for-5) made his return from the disabled list...Dom Thompson-Williams (3-for-5, 2B, R) and Hoy Jun Park (2-for-4, BB) reached base three times apiece...RHP Greg Weissert (H, 2)(1.2IP, 1H, 2BB, 2K) and RHP Matt Wivinis (SV, 7)(1.1IP. 1H, 2K) combined to hold the Blue Jays scoreless for the final three innings.
STRIKE MACHINE: RHP Luis Rijo did not permit a walk in six innings in his Tarpons debut on Thursday. In fact, prior to joining Tampa, the 19-year-old allowed just one walk in 27.0IP with Rookie-level Pulaski. In six games between Pulaski and Tampa, Rijo has thrown 74% strikes.
AGUILAR HEATING UP: By tallying two more hits on Thursday, Angel Aguilar has now hit safely in seven-straight games. The 23-year-old has climbed back over the Mendoza line by batting .345 (10-for-29) with 7RBI over his last seven games. Also of note: Aguilar leads the Florida State League with seven triples.
FLORIAL RETURNS: Estevan Florial began a rehab assignment in the Gulf Coast League on 7/5. On Tuesday, the 20-year-old played in his final rehab game, going 4-for-4 (3B, 2B, R) and, for the second-straight game played CF for all nine innings. Florial is hit .548 (17-for-31) with 10R, 3HR, 1 3B, 3 2B's, 4BB, 8RBI and 5B in nine rehab games. The Dominican Republic native was placed on the DL on May 18th after requiring hamate surgery in his right hand. Florial returned to the Tarpons from his assignment and was activated off the DL on Thursday.
VS. DUNEDIN: Tonight will be the 14th of 15 games scheduled between the Tampa Tarpons and Dunedin Blue Jays. The Tarpons currently lead the season-series, 7-6, including 4-2 at Dunedin Stadium. In nine games against the Blue Jays, Dom Thompson-Williams is batting .303 (10-for-33) with 5R, 2 2B's, 6RBI, 2BB and 3SB.
STRIKEOUT KINGS: Nick Nelson (5K), Trevor Lane (3K), Matt Frawley (2K) and Andrew Schwaab (1K) combined for 11 strikeouts on Tuesday. Tampa pitchers have tallied double-digit strikeouts in 44 games this season, with the Tarpons going 25-19 in such games. Tampa, by far, leads the Florida State League in strikeouts, totaling 928K entering today. That is 93K more than the team ranked second (Clearwater - 835K). Tampa is averaging 9.57 K-per-game and is on pace for 1,339K, which would crush its own FSL single-season strikeout record set last season with 1,215K.
BABY BOMBERS: The Tarpons currently lead the league with 80 home runs, which is nine more than second on the list (Bradenton- 71HR).
BRANDON'S BOMBS: After smashing his 19th homer on Wednesday, Brandon Wagner is now tied for the Florida State League lead in home runs with Daytona's Ibandel Isabel. Wagner leads all Yankees minor leaguers in homers and RBI (54).
10-WIN CLUB: RHP Adonis Rosa became the second pitcher to reach 10 wins in the Florida State League on Wednesday, joining Daytona RHP Scott Moss (10-3). Also of note, Rosa is now 8-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 11 road games (nine starts).
FOR STARTERS: RHP Rony Garcia (0-1, 6.00) will make his second start with Tampa. Last time out, made his Tarpons debut and took the loss vs. Dunedin on 7/14 (6.0IP, 7H, 4ER, 2BB, 4K, 92P/58S)...Began the season with the RiverDogs, going 3-4 with a 4.18 ERA (71.IP, 73H, 44R/33ER, 13BB, 62S, 5HR, 6HB) in 14 starts.
2017: Combined at Rookie-level Pulaski and Single-A Charleston to go 2-3 with a 2.50 ERA (75.2IP, 63H, 29R/21ER, 17BB, 56K, 4HR) in 13 starts...opponents hit .225 (63-for-280)...allowed 3ER-or-fewer in each of his 13 starts...started the season with Pulaski, posting a 3.97 ERA (11.1IP, 11H, 7R/5ER, 2BB, 11K, 1HR) in two starts...was promoted to Charleston on 7/5 and went 2-3 with a 2.24 ERA (64.1IP, 53H, 22R/16ER, 15BB, 45K, 3HR) in 11 starts.
Personal: 20-years-old, 6-3, 200 - Mao, Dominican Republic...Signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 7/2/15.
Florida State League Stories from July 20, 2018
- Lundquist Launches Walk-Off Shot for 7-5 Win - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Tortugas Hit Three Home Runs in Friday's 4-2 Win - Daytona Tortugas
- Pujols Slams Threshers to 4-2 Victory - Clearwater Threshers
- Lewis Homers, Drives In Five In 11-6 Victory - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Stone Crabs Fend off Hammerheads 6-2 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Tarpons Tally 11 Hits, But Blue Jays Walk-Off, 7-5 - Tampa Tarpons
- Pache Becomes First to 100 in Loss to Threshers - Florida Fire Frogs
- Llanes Shuts Down Cardinals, Mets Win 6-1 - St. Lucie Mets
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: July 20, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: at Dunedin - Tampa Tarpons
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