Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: vs. Dunedin
July 15, 2018 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
7/15 Tampa vs. Dunedin - Game 3 (of three) - George M. Steinbrenner Field (Tampa, FL) - 1:00 p.m.
Pitching Matchup: RHP Connor Eller (4-2, 3.10) vs. LHP Dalton Lehnen (0-0, 2.79) Live Audio: TuneIn Radio (Tampa Tarpons Broadcast Network)
LAST NIGHT: The Tampa offense struggled again as Dunedin clinched the series with a 5-2 win on Saturday night...The Tarpons managed to score two runs on six hits for the second-straight game...RHP Rony Garcia (L, 0-1) got the start in his Tarpons debut (6.0IP, 7H, 4ER, 2BB, 4K, 92P/58S)...Angel Aguilar (1-for-4, R) singled and later scored on a groundout by Rashad Crawford (0-for-3, BB, RBI) in the 3rd...Brandon Wagner (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R) clubbed a leadoff homer in the 6th (his 18th HR)...Dom Thompson-Williams (2-for-3, BB, 3SB) reached base three times and tallied a career-high three stolen bases...LHP Trevor Lane held the Blue Jays to one run in 2.0IP (2H, 2K, HR)...RHP Matt Wivinis tossed a perfect 9th (1.0IP, 0H).
BRANDON'S BOMBS: Brandon Wagner hit his 18th home run in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Dunedin. The 22-year-old leads all Yankees minor leaguers in home runs and ranks second in the Florida State League, trailing only Daytona's Ibandel Isabel (19 HR).
VS. DUNEDIN: Today will be the 12th of 15 scheduled between the Tampa Tarpons and Dunedin Blue Jays. Tampa currently leads the season-series, 6-5, including 3-3 at GMS Field and 3-2 at Dunedin Stadium. Diego Castillo has played in all 11 matchups and is batting .308 (12-for-39) with 7R, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 1HR, 5RBI, 1BB, 1HBP and 2SB in the series.
DAY GAME GLORY: Today, the Tarpons will play their 19th day game. Tampa is 14-4 (.778) in games that start prior to 5:00 p.m.
STRIKEOUT KINGS: Garrett Whitlock (8K) and Matt Wivinis (2K) combined for 10 strikeouts on Wednesday. Tampa pitchers have tallied double-digit strikeouts in 42 games this season, with the Tarpons going 25-17 in such games. Tampa, by far, leads the Florida State League in strikeouts, totaling 886K entering today. That is 92K more than the team ranked second (Clearwater - 794K). Tampa is averaging 9.63 K-per-game and is on pace for 1,348K, which would crush its own FSL single-season strikeout record set last season with 1,215K.
DIEHL TO DOUBLE-A: LHP Phillip Diehl's final performance with Tampa led to a promotion. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old struck out five of the six batters he faced in a pair of perfect innings. Diehl leaves the Florida State League ranking 1st in strikeouts (79K), 1st in K/9.0IP (14.61), 1st in fewest baserunners/9.0IP (9.25) and tied for 2nd in holds (6). The Ohio native joined Double-A Trenton on Friday after going 2-2 with 3 saves and a 3.14 ERA (48.2IP, 37H, 20R/17ER, 12BB, 79K, 2HR, 1HB) in 25 relief outings with the Tarpons.
ROAD TO RECOVERY: Both Estevan Florial and Keith Skinner began rehab assignments in the Gulf Coast League last week. So far, Florial is batting .478 (11-for-23) with 7R, 2HR, 2 2B's, 4BB, 7RBI and 4SB in seven games. Skinner batted .222 (2-for-9) with 2RBI, 2BB and a Sac-F in four GCL games before continuing his rehab with short-season Single-A Staten Island on Thursday, catching all nine innings while going 1-for-3 (R).
BABY BOMBERS: The Tarpons currently lead the league with 78 home runs, which is eight more than second on the list (Bradenton- 70HR).
SENSLEY'S SOLOS: On Friday, Steven Sensley clubbed his 13th home run (third with Tampa). All 13 have been solo home runs.
FOR STARTERS: LHP Dalton Lehnen (0-0, 2.79) will make his third start with Tampa...Last time out, took a no-decision at Jupiter on 7/9 (5.0IP, 4H, 1ER, 3BB, 5K, 89P/53S)...Began the season with Single-A Charleston, going 6-3 with a 2.67 ERA (70.2IP, 59H, 23R/21ER, 3HR, 3HB, 24BB, 73K) in 13 games (11 starts).
VS. DUNEDIN: Lehnen made his Tarpons debut in Dunedin on 7/3, taking a no-decision (4.2IP, 6H, 2ER, 4BB, 4K, HR, 90P/49S).
2017: In his professional debut, combined with the GCL Yankees West and Rookie-level Pulaski to go 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA (33.1IP, 40H, 20R/15ER, 9BB, 43K, 3HR) in 11 games (10 starts).
Personal: 22-years-old, 6-3, 222 - Burnsville, Minnesota...Selected by the Yankees in the sixth round in 2017 out of Augustana University...In his only season at Augustana University (S. Dak.), went 3-3 with a 2.60 ERA (52.0IP, 15ER) and 61K in 11 games (10 starts)...prior to transferring to Augustana, attended the University of Cincinnati for two years.
Florida State League Stories from July 15, 2018
- Tortugas Fall 5-2 in Homestand Finale - Daytona Tortugas
- Late Rally Falls Short as Tarpons Lose, 5-4 - Tampa Tarpons
- Flying Tigers Walk Off In Rubber Game, 5-4 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Threshers Salvage Finale Behind Markham's 4 Hits - Clearwater Threshers
- Florida Falls Short of Sweep in Sunday Loss - Florida Fire Frogs
- Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: vs. Dunedin - Tampa Tarpons
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: July 15, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
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