Late rally pushes T-Yanks past Mets 4-2

The Tampa Yankees were out at Tradition Field on Monday night to take on top prospect Michael Conforto and the St. Lucie Mets. After a ninth inning rally, the T-Yanks were able to pull off the 4-2 win.

The first four innings proved to be a pitching duel between St. Lucie’s RHP Robert Gsellman (ERA 1.46) and Tampa’s Conner Kendrick (ERA 6.55). In the top of the fifth the Yanks got on the board first with a RBI double by Ericson Leonora to send Michael O’Neill home to score.

The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, when Phillip Evans scored when Yeixon Ruiz grounded out.

Kendrick would go just five innings, allowing one hit and one run while striking out three batters. Andury Acevedo (ERA 1.42) then took over pitching duties for Tampa and would get into a bit of trouble in the seventh inning while loading the bases and then being relived by Evan Rutckyj (ERA 2.45).

The Mets took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh with a RBI single by Maikis De La Cruz with bases loaded.

In the top of the ninth, Tyler Wade started the inning off with a single on a line drive to left field. Wade would proceed to steal second and Miguel Andujar walked, putting runners on first and second. A wild pitch by the Mets’ Bobby Parnell then advanced both base runners. A two run double by Mike Ford then put the Yanks ahead 3-2. With Michael O’Neill at bat, another wild pitch would send Ford home to score and put Tampa up by two.

Rutckyj earned his second win of the season by pitching a 1.2 innings allowing one hit and struck out two. angel Rincon (ERA 3.20) earned his third save of the season by pitching a one hit ninth inning; striking out two.

The final line on Gsellman: 8IP, 5H, 1R, 5K. Parnell was charged with the blown save and the loss with a final line: 1IP, 2 H, 3R.

Top Stats:

Tampa Yankees:

Tyler Wade: 3 for 4, R
Mike Ford:1 for 4, DBL, 2 RBI, R
Mark Payton: 1 for 4
Ericson Leonora: 1 for 3: DBL; RBI
Kyle Higashioka: 1 for 3

Next Up:
The Tampa Yankees and st. Lucie Mets will be back at Tradition Field on Tuesday morning at 10:30am with Rookie Davis (2.93, 2-2) taking the start for Tampa against St. Lucie’s (2.57, 0-2).