Ruta, Aguilar Homer Early in 5-3 Victory
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Ben Ruta and Angel Aguilar both homered early and Tampa pitchers tallied 16 strikeouts as the Tarpons snapped a season-long eight-game losing streak with a 5-3 win in the series-opener over the Bradenton Marauders on Thursday night at LECOM Park.Diego Castillo and Dom Thompson-Williams both singled and
BRADENTON, Fla. --
Bradenton (15-29, 50-59) responded with three base hits off RHP
Steven Sensely hit a leadoff double down the right field line in the second and scored when Aguilar crushed a ball over the left field wall, giving Tampa (21-26, 56-61) a 5-1 lead. It was Aguilar's sixth homer of the season.
Nelson stranded a two-out hit-batter in the second and worked a perfect third before yielding a leadoff home run by Tolman in the fourth. It was the first homer allowed by Nelson in 100 and two-third innings pitched. The only other home run allowed by Nelson this season was in his first start with Single-A Charleston on April 8th.
Only two Tarpons reached after the second inning off RHP
Nelson (W, 6-4) retired the final nine batters he faced, including seven strikeouts. The 22-year-old tallied 11 strikeouts, which was the most since he struck out 12 on April 13th with Charleston. Nelson held the Marauders to two earned runs on four hits in six innings, yielding no walks while throwing 70 of 100 pitches for strikes.
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Thompson-Williams (2-for-4, R) is on a seven-game hitting streak, batting .400 (10-for-25) with seven runs scored in that span. Ruta (2-for-4, HR, 3RBI, R) is batting .365 (27-for-74) with 14 RBI over his last 19 games. Aguilar (2-for-4, HR, 2RBI, R) and Sensley (1-for-3, 2B, BB, R) also reached base twice.
The series continues on Friday at 6:30 p.m. RHP