Stone Crabs Strike Late as Tarpons Drop Third-Straight
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons took a 2-0 lead into the seventh, but the Charlotte Stone Crabs scored six late runs and held on for a 6-4 on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Tampa (24-24, 52-62) has now dropped three-straight games after winning five in a row.RHP
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Tarpons took a 2-0 lead into the seventh, but the Charlotte Stone Crabs scored six late runs and held on for a 6-4 on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Tampa (24-24, 52-62) has now dropped three-straight games after winning five in a row.
RHP
Gil stranded a two-out single in the second and a leadoff walk in the third before Charlotte (35-15, 70-46) loaded the bases with a single and a pair of two-out walks in the fourth. Gil struck out
RHP
Strotman allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits in three and two-third innings, walking two while striking out three on 58 pitches (37 strikes) in his second start with the Stone Crabs.
LHP Edgar Barclay made his Tarpons debut, entering in relief in the fifth. After issuing a leadoff walk, Barclay retired the next six batters he faced, tallying four strikeouts before finding trouble in the seventh.
Zurak struck out
Palacios then lined a go-ahead two-run single into right, putting the Stone Crabs ahead, 3-2. Another run scored as Wilson reached on a fielding error by Garcia at shortstop, and Palacios later crossed the plate on a wild pitch before a groundout by Franco ended the inning.
RHP
RHP Jake Labosky fired a 1-2-3 eighth inning before returning for ninth. Castillo singled and, two outs later, scored on a double by Gray. Molina followed with a single, scoring Gray and bringing the tying run to the plate. Labosky (SV, 5) got Garcia to groundout to end the game.
Sands (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to six games and is hitting .333 (11-for-33) over his last 10 games. Molina (2-for-4, 2RBI, SB, CS) is batting .362 (17-for-47) with 12RBI over his last 14 games. Castillo (2-for-3, BB, R) is batting .343 (12-for-35) over his last nine games.
The series continues on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., with RHP
On Strikeout Saturday, strikeouts by Tampa pitchers will determine the special of the day. When a Tarpons pitcher strikes out a batter, a select special will be activated for the night (each special lasts 60 minutes). In addition, fans can collect player autographs on the concourse from 5:40-6:00 p.m.