Tarpons Rally in Ninth Inning, Walk off against Marauders
May 31, 2019 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Tarpons News Release
Tampa Tarpons celebrate a walk-off victory
(Tampa Tarpons, Credit: Mark LoMoglio)
TAMPA, Fla. - Trailing by a run, with two outs and the bases empty, in the bottom of the ninth, the Tampa Tarpons rallied for their second walk-off win of the season, defeating the Bradenton Marauders, 8-7, in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Isiah Gilliamkept the game alive by drawing a pinch-hit walk against RHP Nick Mears. Gilliam stole second and scored the tying run when Angel Aguilar lined a single into right field. Aguilar then stole second, and Omar Carrizales hit a soft liner into center. Aguilar beat a throw to the plate by centerfielder Travis Swaggerty, giving Tampa (22-31) the victory.
The Tarpons struck early against Bradenton (31-22) starter Aaron Shortridge, scoring three runs in the first. Diego Castillo singled, Steven Sensley walked, and both scored on a double by Oswaldo Cabrera. One out later, Cabrera scored on a groundout by Jason Lopez.
Aguilar and Carrizales lined back-to-back doubles to produce a run, opening the bottom of the second. The Marauders got one back when Swaggerty walked and scored on a two-out hit by Chris Sharpe in the third, but Dermis Garcia restored Tampa's four-run cushion with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the third.
Shortridge allowed five earned runs on seven hits, two walks and a hit-batter in five innings, striking out five on 80 pitches (53 strikes).
RHP Shawn Semple started for the Tarpons and took a 5-1 lead into the sixth before Sharpe lined a leadoff single. One out later, Lucas Tancas pulled an RBI double into left and Deon Stafford followed with a two-run homer, cutting the lead to 5-4. RHP Brady Lail relieved Semple and got a pair of fly outs to end the frame.
Semple allowed four earned runs on eight hits in five and a third innings, walking one while striking out six on 86 pitches (57 strikes).
A throwing error from third base by Aguilar allowed Chase Lambert to reach to begin the seventh, and Swaggerty followed with a go-ahead, two-run homer to right. One out later, Bradenton rallied with three-straight singles, including an RBI hit by Tancas.
Lail (BS, 1) got a strikeout and a groundout to limit the damage in the seventh and tallied two more strikeout while stranding a leadoff single in the eighth. RHP Andrew Bellatti (W, 1-0) got a double-play to help him face the ninth.
After a pair of scoreless relief innings by RHP Allen Montgomery, Mears entered for Bradenton in the eighth. Tyler Hill smacked a solo homer over the short porch in right field, cutting the deficit to 7-6. Castillo drew an 11-pitch, one-out walk and took second on a wild pitch, but Sensley and Cabrera flew out, stranding the tying run.
Mears (L, 3-1)(BS, 1) returned for the ninth and struck out Garcia before getting Lopez to fly out. Gilliam entered as a pinch-hitter for Welfrin Mateo and walked to begin the rally.
It was the second time this season the Tarpons won a game when trailing after the first eight innings. The other occurrence was when Gilliam hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 3-2, on April 7th.
Cabrera (2-for-5, 2B, 2RBI, R, SB), Aguilar (2-for-4, 2B, BB, 2R, SB), Carrizales (2-for-5, 2B, 2RBI) and Hill (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R) all had multi-hit games. Garcia (1-for-3, HR, 2BB, RBI, R) tallied his league-leading 12thhome run and 35thRBI. Sensley (0-for-3, BB, HBP, CS) extended his on-base streak to 10 games.
The series continues on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. when the Tarpons host Decades Night. Tampa's starting pitcher is TBA as RHP Nicholas Economos (1-1, 2.25) is slated to start for Bradenton. Live play-by-play of the action will be available on the Tampa Tarpons Baseball Network.
On Strikeout Saturday, strikeouts by Tampa pitchers will determine the special of the day. When a Tarpons pitcher strikes out a batter, a select special will be activated for the night (each special lasts 60 minutes). In addition, fans can collect player autographs on the concourse from 5:40-6:00 p.m.
Images from this story
 Omar Carrizales and Welfrin Mateo of the Tampa Tarpons (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Dermis Garcia of the Tampa Tarpons receives congratulations in the dugout (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Omar Carrizales of the Tampa Tarpons (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Omar Carrizales of the Tampa Tarpons celebrates around the bases (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Tampa Tarpons pitcher Shawn Semple (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Tyler Hill of the Tampa Tarpons slides safely into second (Mark LoMoglio) |
 Tampa Tarpons celebrate a walk-off victory (Mark LoMoglio) |
Florida State League Stories from May 31, 2019
- Whitefield, Lee Lift Miracle To 8-3 Win In Opener - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Murray Hurls a Quality Start in a Dunedin Victory in Clearwater - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Tarpons Rally in Ninth Inning, Walk off against Marauders - Tampa Tarpons
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- Kingham, Coquis Crush Cardinals, 7-0 - Florida Fire Frogs
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- Stone Crabs Game Notes - Fri, May 31 vs St. Lucie - Charlotte Stone Crabs
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