Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: vs. Lakeland
Published on August 5, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
8/5 Tampa vs. Lakeland - Game 3 (of three) - George M. Steinbrenner Field (Tampa, FL) - 1:00 p.m.
Pitching Matchup: LHP Liarvis Breto (2-1, 1.47) vs. RHP Nick Green (6-4, 3.16). Live Audio: TuneIn Radio (Tampa Tarpons Broadcast Network).
LAST NIGHT: The Tarpons came from behind after trailing by five runs, but left the bases loaded twice as the comeback fell short in a 7-6 loss...Lakeland tallied eight stolen bases, including three double-steals...RHP Nick Nelson (L, 5-4) logged a short start (3.0IP, 4H, 3ER, 3BB, 5K, 81P/51S)...RHP Braden Bristo made his Tarpons debut (1.2IP, 2H, 1R/0ER, 3BB, 1K)...Tampa batted around in the 6th, scoring its first four runs...Kellin Deglan (2-for-2, 2B, BB, 3RBI) tied a season-high with 3RBI...Estevan Florial (1-for-3, 2BB, R, CS) also reached base three times...At 3-hours and 23-minutes, it was the longest game of the season for the Tarpons...The game featured 17 walks.
RUTA'S RAKING: In his last 13 games, Ben Ruta (1-for-4, CS) is batting .404 (21-for-52) with 9RBI and nine runs scored. The 24-year-old also leads all Yankees minor leaguers with 33 stolen bases.
VS. LAKELAND: Today will be the 16th and final game scheduled between the Tampa Tarpons and Lakeland Flying Tigers. Lakeland currently leads the season-series, 10-5. The Tarpons are 2-7 against the Flying Tigers when playing at GMS Field. In 11 games against Lakeland, Hoy Jun Park is batting .382 (13-for-34) with 4R, 2HR, 6RBI, 6BB and 1SB.
NOW BATTING, THE PITCHER: Both Isiah Gilliam and Hoy Jun Park left Wednesday's game after two plate appearances, causing manager Patrick Osborn to get creative. DH Ben Ruta was forced to play the field, doing away with the DH and thus creating a pitchers' spot in the lineup. In the top of the 8th, LHP Justin Kamplain stepped to the plate for his first-career plate appearance. Clearwater reliever Grant Dyer missed with four-straight fastballs, walking Kamplain. Deglan followed with a two-run homer, giving Kamplain his first-career run scored.
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 1,034K entering today. That is 92K more than the team ranked second (Clearwater - 942). Tampa is averaging 9.32 K-per-game and is on pace for 1,304K, 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 78.
FOR STARTERS: RHP Nick Green (6-4, 3.16) will make his 19th start of the season. Last time out, tossed 7.0 shutout frames in a no-decision vs. Palm Beach on 7/29 (4H, 2BB, 3K, HB, 95P/60S)...currently ranks sixth in the Florida State League in ERA and fifth among starters in lowest batting average (.232)...has made a quality start (6.0+ IP/3ER-or-less) in 11 of his 18 starts this season...named a 2018 FSL Mid-Season All-Star and started for the North Division, tossing a perfect 1st-inning (1.0IP, 1K).
2017: Went 8-9 with a 4.49 ERA (126.1IP, 131H, 74R/63ER, 39BB, 112K) in 26 starts with Single-A Charleston...held left-handed batters to a .201 (38-for-189) batting average...went 4-4 with a 2.77 ERA (65.0IP, 20ER) in 13 starts before the All-Star break...did not allow an earned run in three consecutive starts from 4/29-5/13 (20.2IP, 2R)
Personal: 23-years-old, 6-1, 175 - Fountain, Colorado...Acquired from Texas, along with RHPs Dillon Tate and Erik Swanson, in exchange for OF Carlos Beltrán and cash on 8/1/16...was originally selected by the Rangers in the seventh round in 2014 out of Indian Hills Community College...Played one season (2014) at Indian Hills Community College (Iowa), going 3-1 wit ha 2.97 ERA (36.1IP, 12ER)...graduated in 2013 from Fountain-Fort Carson H.S. (Colo.).
Florida State League Stories from August 5, 2018
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- Dimino Clubs Winning Double in 12th Inning - St. Lucie Mets
- Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: vs. Lakeland - Tampa Tarpons
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