Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: at Lakeland
Published on July 8, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
7/8 Tampa at Lakeland - Game 3 (of three) - Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium (Lakeland, FL) - 1:00 p.m.
Pitching Matchup: RHP Adonis Rosa (8-2, 3.84) vs. LHP Gregory Soto (4-3, 4.72) Live Audio: TuneIn Radio (Tampa Tarpons Broadcast Network)
LAST NIGHT: The Tarpons were being no-hit for most of the game, but Tampa pulled out a 2-1 win to even the series in Lakeland...RHP Alfred Gutierrez (L, 1-3) took a no-hitter into the 7th before Diego Castillo (2-for-3, 2B, BB, R, CS) lined a one-out double to right...Brandon Wagner (1-for-4, HR, 2RBI, R) followed with a two-run homer (his 17th HR)...RHP Nick Nelson (W, 4-2) logged 6.0 scoreless IP (3H, 3BB, 5K, 81P/47S)...LHP Trevor Lane (H, 3) retired all six batters he faced (2.0IP, 4K)...RHP Matt Wivinis (SV, 5) surrendered a solo homer by Kade Scivicque while closing the game in the 9th (1.0IP, 1H, 1ER, 1HR).
DAY GAME GLORY: Today, the Tarpons will play thier 17th day game. Tampa is 12-4 (.750) in games that start before 5:00 p.m. In addition, RHP Adonis Rosa (today's starter) is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in three day games.
VS. LAKELAND: Today will be the 13th of 16 games scheduled between the Tampa Tarpons and Lakeland Flying Tigers. Lakeland currently leads the season-series, 8-4, with the Flying Tigers winning six of the last eight matchups. Tampa is 2-3 at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Ben Ruta is batting .450 (9-for-20) with 2R, 1 double, 2HR, 2RBI, 1BB and 2SB in five games against the Flying Tigers.
SENSLEY'S SOLOS: On Friday, Steven Sensley clubbed his 13th home run (third with Tampa). All 13 have been solo home runs.
ROAD TO RECOVERY: Both Estevan Florial and Keith Skinner began rehab assignments with GCL Yankees West on Thursday. Florial played five innings in centerfield and went 2-for-2 with 1R, 1 double, 1BB and 1SB. Skinner caught for five frames and finished 0-for-2 with an RBI sacrifice-fly. Florial was placed on the disabled list on 5/18 and Skinner was later added to the list on 6/2.
STRIKEOUT KINGS: Dalton Lehnen (4K), Phillip Diehl (1K) and Greg Weissert (5K) combined for 10 strikeouts on Tuesday. Tampa pitchers have tallied double-digit strikeouts in 38 games this season, with the Tarpons going 22-16 in such games. Tampa, by far, leads the Florida State League in strikeouts, totaling 819K entering today. That is 80K more than the team ranked second (Clearwater - 739K). Tampa is averaging 9.64 K-per-game and is on pace for 1,349K, which would crush its own FSL single-season strikeout record set last season with 1,215K.
PALMA OUT FOR THE SEASON: A scary moment occurred on Monday in the bottom of the 7th when play was halted for 27 minutes. LF Alexander Palma and SS Diego Castillo collided in left-centerfield while pursuing a shallow fly ball. Castillo managed to stay in the game, but Palma remained on the ground until being taken out of the stadium on an ambulance. The 22-year-old suffered a lower body injury and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa for evaluation. Palma had season-ending surgery on Tuesday and was placed on the 60-Day Disabled List
BABY BOMBERS: Alexander Palma and Steven Sensley both homered on Saturday, marking the 17th multi-homer game by Tampa this season. The Tarpons are 12-5 in such games. Tampa currently leads the league with 74 home runs, which is 10 more than second on the list (Bradenton- 64HR).
FOR STARTERS: RHP Adonis Rosa (8-2-1, 3.84) will make his 11th start (16th appearance). Last time out, started and tallied a season-high 8K in 5.0IP (4H, 1ER, 2BB, 87P/55S), earning the win in Dunedin 7/2...is 5-2 with a 4.04 ERA (49.0IP, 53H, 28R/22ER, 16BB, 49K, 6HR, 3HB) in 10 starts...is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA (21.1IP, 21H, 8ER, 5BB, 18K) as a reliever...named a 2018 FSL Mid-Season All-Star.
VS. LAKELAND: Rosa made his first appearance of the season in Lakeland as a reliever on 4/5 and earned the win (4.0IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 3K, 44P/30S).
ROAD WARRIOR: Rosa has pitched better away from George M. Steinbrenner Field, going 6-0 with a 2.33 ERA in nine away games (seven starts).
2017: Pitched primarily for Single-A Charleston, going 4-3 with two saves and a 3.04 ERA (83.0IP, 77H, 35R/28ER, 14BB, 79K, 8HR) in 21 games (eight starts)...was promoted to Tampa on 8/8 and won all three starts while posting a 4.32 ERA (16.2IP, 15H, 8ER, 4BB, 16K, 1HR)...also made two spot starts for Triple-A Scranton/WB on 6/17-G2 at Buffalo (W, 6.0IP, 6H, 0R, 0BB, 4K) and 7/18-G2 vs. Norfolk (ND, 6.0IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 3K, 1HR)...overall, was 8-3 with two saves and a 3.06 ERA (111.2IP, 101H, 45R/38ER, 19BB, 102K, 10HR) in 26 games (13 starts)...had a 1.64 ERA (44.0IP, 8ER) in 13 outings as a reliever...also tossed 6.0 scoreless relief innings (4H, 0BB, 7K) in Game 1 of the FSL Semifinal Series at Dunedin...following the season, pitched for Cibao of the Dominican Winter League, going 1-1 with a 1.82 ERA (24.2IP, 14H, 6R/5ER, 8BB, 21K, 1HR) in nine games (three starts).
Personal: 23-years-old, 6-1, 160 - Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic...Signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 12/19/13.
Florida State League Stories from July 8, 2018
- Big Fifth Lifts Tortugas to Series Sweep - Daytona Tortugas
- Lartigue Leads Threshers in 8-3 Win - Clearwater Threshers
- Stone Crabs Drop Finale in Clearwater 8-3 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Florida Completes Sweep with 2-1 Victory - Florida Fire Frogs
- Five-Run Seventh Leads Bradenton Past Miracle, 6-4 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Wing Fest Feeding Frenzy Is July 16 - Clearwater Threshers
- Blue Jays Sweep Mets in Doubleheader - St. Lucie Mets
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: July 8, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: at Lakeland - Tampa Tarpons
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.
