Yankees Take See-Saw Battle with Blue Jays, 12-7
April 19, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Tampa Yankees News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - A back-and-forth ballgame ended with a win for the Tampa Yankees (8-5) in a 12-7 final against the Dunedin Blue Jays (7-6) in the series-opener on Tuesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The teams combined for 19 runs on 25 hits and 13 walks.
Christian Lopes led off the game with a solo home run off Tampa starter Chance Adams, giving the Blue Jays an early lead. Dunedin tacked on two more in the second with an RBI single by Danny Jansen and a sac-fly by Lopes.
The T-Yanks rallied to take the lead with a four-run second. Zack Zehner singled and Santiago Nessy walked before Austin Aune lined a ground-rule double down the left field line. Michael O'Neill followed with a go-ahead, three-run home run, giving the Yankees a 4-3 lead.
Ryan McBroom tied the score for the Blue Jays, leading off the third with a solo homer to right. RHP Joey Maher replaced Adams and was greeted with a double by Emilio Guerrero. Two batters later, Jansen singled in Guerrero as the go-ahead run.
Tampa retook the lead against Dunedin starter Ryan Borucki in the third. Billy Fleming singled and advanced to third on a double by Miguel Andujar. Later, Nessy grounded a two-out, two-RBI single to center, giving the Yankees a 6-5 lead.
Maher surrendered the tying run in the fourth on a two-out, RBI single by Guerrero. In the fifth, Jonathan Davis smacked a go-ahead, solo home run to left, giving the Blue Jays a 7-6 lead.
The Yankees used a second four-run inning in the sixth to take the lead for good. Nessy and Aune walked and O'Neill singled, loading the bases with no outs against LHP Alonzo Gonzalez (0-1). Nessy scored as Jake Skole reached on a fielder's choice. RHP Chris Rowley entered for Gonzalez and Jorge Mateo singled home Aune. One out later, Fleming lined a two-run double down the left field line, giving Tampa a 10-7 advantage.
A pair of insurance runs crossed the plate in the eighth. O'Neill singled and Skole doubled with no outs. Mateo and Abiatal Avelino hit back-to-back sacrifice flies, giving the Yankees 12 runs.
RHP Jordan Foley (1-0) earned the win in relief, tossing one and two-third scoreless frames. Foley walked a pair, struck out one and did not allow a hit. RHP Dillon McNamara (1.1 IP, 1 H) and LHP Caleb Frare (1.0 IP, 2 BB) also pitched scoreless outings.
Adams allowed four earned runs on six hits in two innings, walking one while striking out two in his third start of the season with Tampa.
O'Neill (4-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, SB) collected four hits in a game for the second time in his career (8/1/13 with Low-A Charleston). Fleming (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R) has hit safely in 10 of his 11 games.
The series continues on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. RHP Gabriel Encinas (0-1, 1.69 ERA) is slated to start for Tampa against LHP Juliandry Higuera (0-0, 1.80 ERA) for Dunedin. Every Wednesday Night Tampa Yankees home game, kids 14 and under receive a coupon for a FREE hot dog, bag of cracker jack, and small soda or HI-C with the purchase of a lower reserved ticket ($5)!
**Ticket and Food Special can ONLY be purchased at the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office.
Florida State League Stories from April 19, 2016
- Yankees Take See-Saw Battle with Blue Jays, 12-7 - Tampa Yankees
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- Eshelman, Threshers Topple Tortugas, 4-1 - Clearwater Threshers
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- Marauders Start Red Hot, Cruise to 11-5 Victory - Bradenton Marauders
- Paul's Sac Fly Helps Miracle Edge Jupiter, 2-1 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Bushwacker Luke Replaces Greg "The Hammer" Valentine for Saturday - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Flying Tigers Pitcher A.J. Ladwig Named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week - Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Blue Jays Help Raise Nearly $2,000 During April's Bark in the Park - Dunedin Blue Jays
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