Yankees 1-Hit Cardinals, Split Double Header

July 23, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - Following a 10-7 loss in the completion of Friday night's suspended game, the Tampa Yankees (14-16, 56-43) split the twin bill by holding the Palm Beach Cardinals (10-20, 42-56) to one hit in a 2-0 victory on Saturday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The teams totaled 17 runs on 25 hits in the first game before tallying only two runs on six hits in the second contest.

Last night, the T-Yanks rallied for three runs on four hits in the first inning and held a 3-0 lead before the start of a rain delay. Abiatal Avelino and Trey Amburgey provided the lead with a pair of RBI singles off LHP Jacob Evans.

Palm Beach placed runners at first and second with two outs in the top of the third before the rain led to a decision to suspend the game and resume it the next day.

RHP Jose Mesa Jr. started on the mound in the resumed game, relieving starter Josh Rogers. Back-to-back walks forced home the first Cardinals run, charged to Rogers. The left-hander allowed the one run on two hits in two and two-third innings, walking three while striking out three in his 14th start.

Tampa responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third off RHP Junior Fernandez. Avelino doubled and later scored on a base hit by Kevin Cornelius. Wes Wilson added a single into right, scoring Cornelius for a 5-1 lead.

The Cardinals cut into the lead, once more, with a two-out, two-run home run by Casey Turgeon in the fourth.

Jeff Hendrix led off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit and a pair of groundouts allowed him to advance to third before scoring on a two-out single by Avelino.

Palm Beach turned the tide by exploding for six runs in the fifth, dooming the Yankees. Mesa returned to the mound and allowed a pair of one-out base runners. RHP Matt Marsh (L, 6-2) entered and allowed the first four batters he faced to reach, allowing a two-run single by Orlando Olivera and a two-run double by Vaughn Bryan. Turgeon followed with a sacrifice fly and Edmundo Sosa capped the scoring with an RBI single.

Jorge Mateo doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin Aune in the sixth. The Cardinals answered with a two-out RBI single by Thomas Spitz in the eighth.

Fernandez (W, 1-2) earned the win in relief after allowing three earned runs on six hits in three innings, walking two while striking out one.

A first-inning rally by the Yankees proved to be the difference in the later game.

Hendrix, Zack Zehner and Aune hit three-straight singles, producing the first Tampa run. Avelino followed with a groundout to second, scoring Zehner for a 2-0 lead.

That was all the run support need by Yefrey Ramirez (W, 2-3). The right-hander took a no-hitter into the fifth and twirled six shutout frames, scattering a single and two walks while striking out five. Ramirez threw 46 of 72 pitches for strikes.

RHP Dillon McNamara (SV, 8) completed the one-hitter by tallying a strikeout in a 1-2-3 seventh.

RHP Matt Pearce (L, 8-7) shouldered the loss for the Cardinals after making a quality start, holding the Yankees to two earned runs on five hits in six innings. Pearce stuck out five, did not allow a walk and threw 66 of 87 pitches for strikes in his fourth complete game of the season.

Hendrix (5-for-6, BB, 3R) has hit safely in all six games since joining Tampa. Avelino (3-for-8, 2B, 3RBI, 2R) and Aune (2-for-6, BB, 2RBI, R) had RBI in each game. Zehner (2-for-3, R), Cornelius (2-for-4, RBI, R) and Wilson (2-for-4, RBI) also had multi-hit games.

The series wraps up on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Tampa starter is TBA while LHP Ian McKinney (6-6, 4.43 ERA) is scheduled to start for Palm Beach. Every Sunday Tampa Yankees home game, fans ages 55 and over receive a coupon for a FREE hot dog, small popcorn, and small soda or HI-C with the purchase of a lower reserved ticket ($5)! All Kids ages 14 and under can run the bases after the game. **Food & Ticket Special can ONLY be purchased at the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.



Florida State League Stories from July 23, 2016


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