Yankees' Comeback Falls Short in 6-4 Loss
June 1, 2017 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (27-27) fell back down to .500 after falling short of coming back against the Charlotte Stone Crabs (25-26) in a 6-4 loss on Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Greg Bird began his rehab assignment with Tampa, batting second and playing first base for six innings. The 24-year-old reached base every time, walking in his first two plate appearances before looping a single into left field in the fifth. Bird is currently on New York's disabled list after re-aggravating a bone bruise in his right ankle.
The Yankees committed the first of a season-high four errors in the first inning. Charlotte placed runners on the corners with two outs and David Rodriguez lined a single into right field, scoring Brandon Lowe from third. The ball caromed off the knee of Austin Aune and rolled further into right-centerfield, allowing Ryan Boldt to score from first, giving the Stone Crabs a 2-0 lead.
Knuckleballer Taylor Hawkins made the start for Charlotte and did not permit a hit until Chris Gittens blasted an opposite-field, leadoff home run in the fourth, cutting the deficit in half for Tampa.
Hawkins allowed one earned run on three hits and six walks in four and a third innings, striking out three while tossing 41 of 83 pitches for strikes in a no-decision.
Brody Koerner made his second start of the season for Tampa. After the first inning, the right-hander stayed out of trouble until the Stone Crabs added on in the sixth.
Lowe lined a leadoff double into the left field corner and came around to score on a combination of a bunt single by Boldt and a throwing error by catcher Wes Wilson . A pair of walks loaded the bases and Josh Rapacz roped a two-out, two-run single into left, giving Charlotte a 5-1 advantage.
Koerner (L, 0-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits in five and two-third innings, walking three while striking out three and throwing 51 of 81 pitches for strikes.
The T-Yanks cut into the deficit in the seventh against LHP Greg Maisto (W, 1-1). Gosuke Katoh and Jorge Mateo both walked and scored on a two-run double to the wall in left-centerfield by Mandy Alvarez .
Charlotte got a run back in the top of the eighth against RHP Travis Hissong when Rodriguez doubled and scored while Dalton Kelly reached on an error by Alvarez at first base.
Tampa loaded the bases with no outs in the home half of the eighth and Katoh drove in Trey Amburgey from third base with a sacrifice fly into centerfield. LHP Dalton Moats (SV, 2) retired the next two batters and held the Yankees scoreless in the ninth, closing out the game for the Stone Crabs.
Gittens (2-for-5, HR, RBI, R) crushed his sixth home run and logged his ninth multi-hit game of the season. Alvarez (1-for-2, 2RBI) replaced Bird in the seventh and recorded his second multi-RBI game of the season. RHP Jose Pena tallied a strikeout in a perfect relief inning in the ninth.
The series concludes on Friday at 7:00 p.m. when RHP Erik Swanson (1-2, 4.13 ERA) squares off against RHP Roel Ramirez (2-0, 2.70 ERA). On Wing Deal Fridays, fans can get all-you-can-eat chicken wings from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. for $10. For more information, call (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tybaseball.com .
Florida State League Stories from June 1, 2017
- Yankees' Comeback Falls Short in 6-4 Loss - Tampa Yankees
- Moats Bails out Stone Crabs in 6-4 Win over Yankees - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Errors Costly Again for Blue Jays in Home Loss - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Waguespack's Start, Garcia's Slam Lift Threshers - Clearwater Threshers
- Helsley Twirls Gem in Palm Beach Victory - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Marauders Down Miracle, 5-1 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Mets Stumble in 4-2 Extra Innings Loss to Tortugas - St. Lucie Mets
- Bradenton 5, Fort Myers 1 - Bradenton Marauders
- Seven Threshers Named to FSL All-Star Team - Clearwater Threshers
- Paul, Rodriguez, Navarreto and Clay Named FSL South All-Stars - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Four Tortugas Named to All-Star Game - Daytona Tortugas
- Mets Place 5 on FSL South All Star Team - St. Lucie Mets
- Seferina, Gallen Tabbed as FSL South Division All-Stars - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Lowe, Sullivan and Cronenworth Named 2017 FSL All-Stars - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Greg Bird to Begin Rehab Stint with Tampa on Thursday, June 1st - Tampa Yankees
- Flying Tigers Starting Pitcher Beau Burrows Selected to Florida State - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Florida State League All-Star Rosters Announced - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Nine Marauders Named to 2017 Florida State League South Division - Bradenton Marauders
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