The Tampa Yankees hosted their home opener on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field as they took on the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Brady Lail and the T-Yanks defeated the Tigers on Thursday night 2-1 in the first game of 2015. Despite an early lead for the T-Yanks, they would be defeated by the Tigers 5-3.
RHP Rookie Davis took the start as he made his Tampa Yankees’ debut. Davis spent the 2014 season with the Charleston RiverDogs where he went 7-8 with a 4.93 mark in 27 appearances.
The Tigers took an early 1-0 lead after Jiwan James scored after hitting a double on a line drive to left field.
In the bottom of the 1st, the T-Yanks took a 3-1 lead over Lakeland. Tyler Wade started it with a single on a ground ball to left and was then followed by a double by Miguel Andujar to tie the game at 1. A two run homer by Matt Snyder though would give Tampa the lead.
Davis (ERA 1.50) pitched a solid 6 innings allowing just 3 hits and 1 run; striking out 5. RHP Andrew Bailey pitched the 7th and then began the 8th which is where the trouble began for Bailey and the Yanks.
In the top of the 8th, Bailey would be charged with two runs before being replaced by RHP Philip Walby who would last just one out before being replaced by Evan Rutckyj. Walby, who was charged with the blown save, allowed 1 hit and 2 runs along with 2 walks. Rutckyj would calm things down a bit as he got out of the eighth and then pitched a solid ninth.
The Tampa Yankees tried to rally back from the two run deficit, and even had a runner on in the ninth, but it just wasn’t enough.
Notable Stats:
Tyler Wade: 1 for 4
Miguel Andujar: 2 for 4, RBI
Matt Snyder: 2 for 3; 2 RBI, HR
Radley Haddad: 2 for 4
Claudio Custodio: 1 for 3
Next Game:
The Tampa Yankees will travel back to Joker Merchant Stadium on Saturday night for the third game of the series.
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