Tarpons Drop Rain-Shortened Season-Finale, 3-1
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Tarpons closed out the 2018 season with a rain-shorted loss to the Bradenton Marauders, 3-1 in seven innings, on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.The Tarpons fell short of making the Florida State League playoffs for the first time since 2015. However, Tampa finished
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Tarpons closed out the 2018 season with a rain-shorted loss to the Bradenton Marauders, 3-1 in seven innings, on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Tarpons fell short of making the Florida State League playoffs for the first time since 2015. However, Tampa finished with an overall record of 70-67 for its third-straight winning season.
RHP
Bradenton (55-75) jumped ahead in the first when
Morris then retired eight of the next nine batters he faced before allowing a one-out walk by
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Morris (1-3) logged his longest outing of the season, yielding three earned runs on four hits in three and two-third innings. The 24-year-old walked two, struck out three and threw 33 of 53 pitches for strikes.
A walk by Gilliam and a single by
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Vasquez allowed one earned run on five hits in four and a third innings, walking four while striking out six on 98 pitches (62 strikes).
Bristo worked around three hits in a scoreless fifth before striking out the side in a perfect sixth. RHP
Wind picked up prior to the top of the eighth and the tarp was placed onto the field minutes before heavy rain showers arrived. After a 30-minute delay, the game was called official after seven innings.
Barrios (2-for-3, R) logged the lone multi-hit game for Tampa.
Gilliam (0-for-1, 2BB, RBI) ranks third in the league with 71RBI and finishes the season ranked second in hits (123) and third in total bases (188). Thompson-Williams (1-for-3, BB, SB) ends the season ranked fifth in the league with 65 RBI.
The Tarpons will return to action when the 2019 season commences in April.