Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: DH vs. Clearwater
Published on August 6, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
8/6 Tampa vs. Clearwater - Doubleheader - Games 1 & 2 (of four) - George M. Steinbrenner Field (Tampa, FL) - 5:00 p.m.
Pitching Matchup: Game 1 - RHP Mauricio Llovera (4-7, 4.40) vs. RHP Garrett Whitlock (4-3, 2.53). Game 2 - LHP McKenzie Mills (1-5, 3.81) vs. RHP Deivi Garcia (0-0, 1.93) Live Audio: TuneIn Radio (Tampa Tarpons Broadcast Network).
LAST TIME: A blinding sun and a pair of errors helped the Flying Tigers complete a three-game sweep of the Tarpons with a 5-3 final on Sunday afternoon at GMS Field...Zac Shepherd got credit for a two-out, two-run double when Ben Ruta failed to locate a high pop-up in shallow right field...Tampa sent all nine batters to the plate and grabbed the lead with three runs in the 3rd...Lakeland took back the lead by scoring three unearned runs in the 6th...RHP Nick Green (L, 6-5) made a quality start (6.0IP, 7H, 5R/2ER, 2BB, 5K, 95P/58S)...Hoy Jun Park (1-for-2, 2BB, HBP, R) reached base four times...Dom Thompson-Williams (2-for-5, 2B, R) and Kellin Deglan (1-for-3, BB) reached base twice apiece...LHP Justin Kamplain (3.0IP, 2H, 1BB, 5K) logged his second-straight scoreless outing...RHP Eudis Idrogo (W, 2-3) got the win in relief (5.0IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 7K).
RUTA'S RAKING: In his last 14 games, Ben Ruta (1-for-4) is batting .393 (22-for-56) with 9RBI and nine runs scored. The 24-year-old also leads all Yankees minor leaguers with 33 stolen bases.
VS. CLEARWATER: Tonight will be the 12th and 13th of 15 games scheduled between the Tampa Tarpons and Clearwater Threshers. Clearwater currently leads the season-series, 7-4. The Tarpons are 3-1 against the Threshers when playing at GMS Field.
1,000 K CLUB: On Tuesday, the Tarpons' pitching staff became the first to reach 1,000 strikeouts in the Florida State League. Tampa leads the league in strikeouts, totaling 1,044K entering today. That is 97K more than the team ranked second (Clearwater - 947). Tampa is averaging 9.32 K-per-game and is on pace for 1,305K, which would crush its own FSL single-season strikeout record set last season with 1,215K.
STRIKEOUTS FOR A CAUSE: The Tarpons have partnered with the American Cancer Society. Throughout the month of August, each time a strikeout is recorded by a Tampa pitcher, money will be raised for cancer research. The Tarpons are asking fans to donate $1.00 for every time a Tampa pitcher strikes out an opposing batter in the 31 games scheduled for August. To donate, fans must visit www.PledgeIt.com/TampaTarpons.
BABY BOMBERS: The Tarpons currently lead the league with 87 home runs. No other team has more than 79.
FOR STARTERS: Game 1 - RHP Garrett Whitlock (4-2, 2.22) will make his 11th start with Tampa...Last time out, earned the win vs. Bradenton on 7/24 (5.1IP, 4H, 3ER, 4BB, 3K, HR, 90P/53S)...made a relief appearance (starting a 4/29 suspended game) for Double-A Trenton, earning the win in his Thunder debut on 7/18 (5.0IP, 3H, 0R, 5BB, 0K, 89P/51S)...Spent time on the disabled list (5/26-6/3) after getting hit by a comebacker in a start at Florida on 5/25...Began the season with Single-A Charleston, going 2-2 with a 1.13 ERA (40.0IP, 23H, 5ER, 1HR, 2HB, 7BB, 44K) in seven starts with the RiverDogs...held opponents scoreless for 26-straight innings between his third start 4/17 and his seventh start on 5/11...left Charleston ranked second in the South Atlantic League in ERA and WHIP (0.75).
2017: Made his professional debut between the GCL Yankees West and Rookie-level Pulaski, combining to go 1-0 with a 3.77 ERA (14.1IP, 14H, 7R/6ER, 0BB, 22K, 1HR) in five games (three starts)...began the season in the GCL, recording 14K in 8.2IP over three starts (4H, 2R/1ER)...finished the year with two relief appearances at Pulaski (1-0, 7.94 ERA, 5.2IP, 5ER).
Personal: 22-years-old, 6-5, 190 - Snellville, GA...Selected by the Yankees in the 18th round in 2017 out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham...Pitched two seasons at UAB (2016-17), going 7-11 with two saves and a 3.56 ERA (111.1IP, 115H, 61R/44ER, 45BB, 90K) in 42 games (eight starts)...graduated from Providence Christian Academy (Ga.), where he was a 2015 Perfect Game Preseason All-America honorable mention...currently ranked as the No. 11 Yankees prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Game 2 - RHP Deivi Garcia (0-0, 1.93) will be added to make his second start with Tampa...Last time out, allowed a season-high 5ER in 6.0IP (4H, 2BB, 7K, 1HB, 2HR, 81P/56S) for Single-A Charleston in a loss at Hickory on 7/31...Made his season debut by starting for Tampa on 6/5 vs. St. Lucie (4.2IP, 2H, 2R/1ER, 3BB, 7K, 1HB, 83P/50S)...Has spent most of his season with Charleston, going 2-4 with a 3.76 ERA (40.2IP, 31H, 19R/17ER, 10BB, 63K, 5HR, 6HB) in eight starts...Tallied a career-high 12K in 6.0 shutout IP (2H, 0BB, 1HB, 96P/62S) in a win vs. Augusta on 7/25.
2017: Combined with the DSL Yankees, the GCL Yankees West and Rookie-level Pulaski to go 6-2 with a 3.30 ERA (60.0IP, 42H, 23R/22ER, 19BB, 85K, 7HR) in 13 games (10 starts)...held opponents to a .202 (42-for-208) BA...started the season with the DSL Yankees, going 1-1 with a 1.17 ERA (15.1IP, 10H, 3R/2ER, 2BB, 18K, 1HR) in three starts...was transferred to the GCL Yankees West on 6/26 and went 3-0 with a 3.24 ERA (16.2IP, 9H, 6ER, 4BB, 24K, 3HR) in four games (two starts)...was promoted to Pulaski on 7/24 and went 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA (28.0IP, 23H, 14ER, 13BB, 43K, 3HR) in six games (five starts).
Personal: 19-years-old, 5-9, 163 - Bonao, Dominican Republic...Signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 7/2/15...Ranked as the No. 14 Yankees prospect by Baseball America and the No. 14 Yankees prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Florida State League Stories from August 6, 2018
- Tampa Throws No-Hitter, But Clearwater Sweeps Twin Bill - Tampa Tarpons
- Threshers Get No-Hit...and Sweep Doubleheader in Tampa - Clearwater Threshers
- Daytona Defeats Dunedin 7-3 at the Jack - Daytona Tortugas
- Lewis Leads 13-0 Rout Of Flying Tigers - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Johnstone Solid in Return, Florida Falls to Palm Beach - Florida Fire Frogs
- Hammerheads Stun Mets with 9th Inning Comeback - St. Lucie Mets
- Pinto's eighth inning single sinks Marauders 2-1 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: August 6, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Kyle Muller Promoted to Double-A Mississippi - Florida Fire Frogs
- Ian Anderson Named FSL Pitcher of the Week - Florida Fire Frogs
- Stone Crabs Game Notes - Mon, Aug 6 vs Bradenton - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: DH vs. Clearwater - Tampa Tarpons
- Taps and Tacos Thursday by Tijuana Flats on August 9 - Clearwater Threshers
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: August 5, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
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.
