Palma, Sands Homer in 5-4 Loss to Charlotte
TAMPA, Fla. - A late comeback fell short for the Tampa Tarpons in a 5-4 loss to the Charlotte Stone Crabs in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Donny Sands and Alexander Palma both homered while combining for all four hits by
TAMPA, Fla. - A late comeback fell short for the Tampa Tarpons in a 5-4 loss to the Charlotte Stone Crabs in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
RHP
Stephan bounced back with a scoreless fifth, stranding a two-out single while picking up his seventh strikeout. The 23-year-old allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in five innings, walking one while striking out seven on 92 pitches (64 strikes).
RHP
Charlotte responded by sending all nine batters to the plate against LHP
One out later, Connor Hollis hit a groundball to Cabrera. Smith beat a throw to the plate as Hollis reached on a fielder's choice. Later, a two-out hit by
After going down in order in the sixth, Tampa got a run back when Palma smashed a leadoff home run in the seventh. LHP
Woods Jr. (W, 9-2) logged a quality start, yielding three earned runs on three hits and two hit-batters in six innings, walking none while striking out seven on 94 pitches (54 strikes). The two home runs allowed were the first given up by Woods Jr. after 71 innings pitched this season.
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Sands roped a leadoff double off Cumbie in the bottom of the eighth and, one out later,
Ona a 2-2 pitch,
Wivinis returned for the ninth and collected a strikeout while working around a two-out walk, picking off Smith on a 1-3-4-1-6-4 rundown. Raiden (SV, 9) added a punchout while retiring the side in order in the bottom of the ninth, closing the game for Charlotte.
Sands (2-for-3, HR, 2B, HBP, 2RBI, 2R) extended his hitting streak to five games and hit his second home run (his first since 4/6). Palma (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R) clubbed his seventh homer (third with Tampa) in 27 games between the Florida State League and Gulf Coast League.
The series continues on Friday at 6:30 p.m., with RHP
On Sink-or-Swim Friday, fans can enjoy all-you-can-drink Bud, Bud Light and Select Liquors for $20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.