After 11 innings, T-Yanks fall to Threshers 9-7

The Tampa Yankees had won sixth straight going into the second game of the series versus the Clearwater Threshers on Wednesday night. Although the T-Yanks were offensively strong, the battle was lost in the eleventh inning 9-7, making them three games back in the last effort to make a run in the playoffs.

The Threshers took a 1-0 lead in the first after RBI single by Chris Serritella. In the third Tampa took a 3-1 lead which was first started with a two run homerun by Cito Culver and then a solo homerun by Eric Jagielo.

In the fourth inning, a wild pitch by Tampa’s Brett Gerritse (ERA 4.00) and then a throwing error by Trent Garrison allowed Clearwater to tie the game at three runs apiece. In the top of the fifth, the Yanks took a 4-3 lead after a RBI double by Jagielo on a ground ball to right. Jose Rosario then helped the Yanks increase the lead with a two run single to make it a 6-3 ballgame.

Gerritse pitched five innings allowing five hits and three runs; one earned; striking out three batters. Kyle Haynes (ERA 3.65) then took the next two innings allowing three hits and one run. In the bottom of the seventh, the Yanks increased the lead to 7-4, with a RBI single by Trent Garrison.

The Threshers then rallied in the top of the ninth tying the game at 7 as RHP Alex Smith (ERA 2.78) allowed three hits and three runs to send the game to extra innings.

After ten innings, the game was still tied as Cesar Vargas (ER 2.54) pitched a clean inning with just one hit allowed.

In the top of the eleventh, Clearwater was able to score off a two run single s RHP Philip Walby (ERA 3.55) was on the mound for the Yanks.

With a final score of 9-7, the Tampa Yankees lost this matchup and will now move forward to take on the Threshers at Bright House Networks Field on Thursday night at 7:00pm with Taylor Garrison (ERA 2.25) on the mound for the Yanks.