Castillo, Facundo lead Tarpons to victory over Marauders
TAMPA, Fla. - CF Jackson Castillo (3-for-3, 1R, 1BB, 2 doubles, 1RBI) and LHP Allen Facundo (5.0IP, 2H, 1BB, 8K) both had big nights, leading the Tampa Tarpons (12-25) to a 5-2 victory over the Bradenton Marauders (17-20) Friday night at GMS Field. Castillo reached base in all four of
TAMPA, Fla. - CF Jackson Castillo (3-for-3, 1R, 1BB, 2 doubles, 1RBI) and LHP Allen Facundo (5.0IP, 2H, 1BB, 8K) both had big nights, leading the Tampa Tarpons (12-25) to a 5-2 victory over the Bradenton Marauders (17-20) Friday night at GMS Field. Castillo reached base in all four of his plate appearances, including two doubles. Facundo shined on the mound, tying a season-high 5.0 innings pitched without giving up a run.
Facundo (W, 1-1) racked up eight strikeouts on his way to tossing 5.0 shutout innings. He only allowed two hits and one walk while earning the victory. His fastball and slider combo accounted for 84% of his total pitch usage. The slider was the swing-and-miss pitch, tallying a whiff rate of 67%. Facundo now leads all starters on the team with a 2.88 ERA.
Heading into the bottom of the fifth, the game was still scoreless until 2B Hans Montero stepped up to the plate. Montero lifted his first homer of the season just over the wall in left to give Tampa the lead. RF Coby Morales walked, advanced to second on an error, and then moved up another ninety feet on a double play. DH Tyler Hardman grew the Tarpons’ lead to two, bouncing an RBI single back up the middle to center field, bringing home Morales.
Bradenton answered back for one in the sixth. With two outs, Eddy Rodriguez sent a hanging changeup over the left field wall to pull Bradenton back within one.
1B Dylan Jasso opened the sixth with a sky-high pop-up on the infield. Esmerlyn Valdez couldn’t handle it, allowing Jasso to reach first base. Southpaw Hunter Furtado proceeded to bounce a pitch to the backstop, moving Jasso to second. Castillo ripped his third hit of the night into center field for an RBI double, which brought home Jasso to give the Tarpons a 3-1 lead.
After getting called up from the FCL earlier in the day, Axiel Plaz made an immediate impact, drilling a seventh inning leadoff home run to left field. Sergio Campana and Javier Rivas both singled to put runners on first and second. Solomon Maguire laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners; however, RHP Cade Austin escaped the threat to hold Tampa’s lead.
The Tarpons added two insurance runs in the eighth. They loaded the bases on walks from SS Roderick Arias, Castillo, and LF Willy Montero. A wild pitch scored Arias, and H. Montero’s groundout scored Castillo to bring the lead to three.
The Tarpons will be back at it against the Marauders tomorrow night, with RHP Josh Grosz projected on the mound. The Tarpons are honoring our military with Military Appreciation Night at GMS Field, with first pitch coming at 6:30 p.m.