Yanks Avoid Dodgers' Broom

Published on May 23, 2005 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Vero Beach Devil Rays News Release


The Tampa Yankees avoided a 4-game sweep by the Dodgers with an 8-7 win at Holman Stadium Sunday afternoon. Matt Kemp continued his torrid hitting for the Dodgers with two home runs and Andy LaRoche added to his league-leading total with his 15th of the year. A.J. Ellis added three hits in a losing cause for the Dodgers. The Ft. Myers Miracle come to town Monday night at 7:00 PM. It's a Knothole Gang night where members of the Gang will receive Dodger Blue Cheer Maracas! Other fans will be admitted for just $2.50 with a receipt from Publix. Tampa jumped out to a big early lead against Brian Pilkington. Matt Carson hit a first-inning, three-run homer and Rudy Guillen followed with a solo shot to make it 4-0. The Yankees added to the lead in the second inning. Ramiro Pena walked, then Justin Christian grounded into what should have been a force play. The ball was dropped at second base, however and Bryce Kartler then delivered a double to score both baserunners.

Kemp led off the bottom of the second with a home run. Later in the inning, Tony Abreu hit a sacrifice fly to score Xavier Paul and bring the Dodgers within 6-2. Tampa countered with a run in the fourth and the Dodgers answered in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double from Abreu.

In the fifth, Kemp hit his second home run of the day to make it 7-5. That gave him five homers in the series to go along with 11 RBI. The Dodgers had a chance to complete the comeback in the sixth. Russell Mitchel, who went 2-4, and Abreu hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Chin-lung Hu sacrificed the runners to second and third, then the Yankees intentionally walked Andy LaRoche to load the bases. Cory Dunlap then knocked in a run with an infield single, but reliever Heath Castle then got a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning and keep Tampa on top 7-6.

The Yankees picked up an unearned run in the eighth and LaRoche launched his home run to left in the bottom of the inning to cap the scoring at 8-7. Mark Alexander pitched a scoreless ninth for the Dodgers, but Tampa's Paul Thorp struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to earn his 9th save of the year.

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Florida State League Stories from May 23, 2005


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