Tarpons Lose Sloppy Game to Tortugas, 9-4
August 18, 2018 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
Tampa Tarpons pitcher Rony Garcia
(Tampa Tarpons, Credit: Mark LoMoglio)
TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa pitchers tallied a season-high four hit-batters and the defense tied a season-high with four errors as the Tarpons fell to the Daytona Tortugas, 9-4, in front of a crowd of 2,090 on Saturday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Daytona (25-30, 62-59) took advantage of an erratic Rony Garcia and batted around in the first. A base hit and two hit-batters loaded the bases with one out. Two runs then scored as Taylor Trammell reached on a throwing error by shortstop Diego Castillo.
Brantley Bell followed with an RBI groundout and Trammell then scored on a double by Stuart Fairchild. A single and a third hit-batter reloaded the bases before Garcia got a groundout to end the inning.
The Tortugas jumped out to a 5-0 lead when Ibandel Isbael drew a leadoff walk in the second and scored on a two-out double by Trammell.
Tampa (25-30, 60-65) cut into the deficit in the third against RHP Tejay Antone. Jason Lopez doubled and Estevan Florial reached on an error to begin the frame. Lopez score, Florial advanced to second and Castillo reached on a fielder's choice on a misplay by second baseman Randy Ventura. Florial scored on a base hit by Dom Thompson-Williams, but a double play lineout and a fly out ended the rally.
After working a perfect third, Garcia faced more trouble in the fourth. Back-to-back singles, along with a misplay in right field by Gilliam, put runners at second and third with one out. A run then scored as Tyler Stephenson reached on an error by Castillo. Trammell hit an RBI double into right and advanced to third on a bobble by Gilliam, but Stephenson was thrown out at the plate on a relay throw by Hoy Jun Park.
RHP Braden Bristo entered and Bell greeted the reliever with a single into center, scoring Trammell to cap the four-run fourth. Daytona added on in the fifth when Michael Beltre walked, stole second and later scored on a fielder's choice by Ventura.
Garcia (L, 0-4) allowed eight runs (four earned) on seven hits and a career-high three hit-batters in three and two-third innings, walking one while striking out three. The 20-year-old threw 45 of 75 pitches for strikes.
Antone (W, 4-3) retired 13-of-14 batters before yielding back-to-back, two-out doubles by Lopez and Florial. The 25-year-old completed seven innings for the second time in three starts, yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits, walking one while striking out five on 86 pitches (60 strikes).
Thompson-Williams walked to open the bottom of the eighth against RHP Aaron Fossas, but was caught stealing one pitch prior to Gilliam clubbing a solo homer to left. Ben Ruta followed with a base hit, but Fossas got a double play to end the inning.
RHP Christian Morris retired seven of the first eight batters he faced in relief of Bristo before allowing a single and a hit-batter in the ninth. RHP Kyle Zurak entered and issued a walk before striking out Isabel to strand the bases loaded.
Angel Aguilar lined a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth, but RHP Ryan Hendrix got a pair of strikeouts to close the game.
Florial (2-for-4, 2B, BB, RBI, R) has multiple hits in five of his last seven games, batting .367 (11-for-30) in that span. Ruta (2-for-4) and Lopez (2-for-4, 2 2B's, 2R) also had multi-hit games. Thompson-Williams (1-for-3, BB, RBI, CS) has a 15-game hitting streak.
The series concludes with a Sunday matinee at 1:00 p.m. RHP Nick Nelson (6-5, 3.51) will square off against LHP Wennington Romero (8-8, 4.54). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network. On "Kids Funday Sunday," kids ages 14-and-under can enjoy half-off kids meals and run the bases after the game.
Images from this story
 Dom Thompson-Williams of the Tampa Tarpons (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Estevan Florial of the Tampa Tarpons (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Tampa Tarpons pitcher Rony Garcia (Mark LoMoglio) |
Florida State League Stories from August 18, 2018
- Tortugas End Drought with 9-Run Explosion - Daytona Tortugas
- Stone Crabs Walk off into First with 8-7 Win - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Llovera Leads Threshers in 4-0 Shutout - Clearwater Threshers
- Logue Leads Jays to 4-1 Win over St. Lucie - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Tarpons Lose Sloppy Game to Tortugas, 9-4 - Tampa Tarpons
- Mets Fall 4-1 at Dunedin - St. Lucie Mets
- Delgado Extends On-Base Streak to 10 in Loss to Lakeland - Florida Fire Frogs
- Clearwater Shuts Out Miracle To Even Series - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Marauders Hold on Late to Clinch 3-2 Victory - Bradenton Marauders
- Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: at Daytona - Tampa Tarpons
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: August 18, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Stone Crabs Game Notes - Sat, Aug 18 vs Palm Beach - Charlotte Stone Crabs
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.
