Kasevish Delivers, Dunedin Downs Tampa 9-7

August 30, 2022 – Florida State League (FSL) – Tampa Tarpons News Release

Tampa Tarpons’ Glenn Otto at bat
(Tampa Tarpons)

TAMPA, Fla. – Back and forth, back and forth.

The Tampa Tarpons (31-22) dropped a heart breaker to the Dunedin Blue Jays (34-20) to begin a crucial six-game set, 9-7.

The ball was flying out of George M. Steinbrenner Field as momentum shifted nearly every single frame. The contest was packed with post season energy with both squads competing for the final playoff spot in the FSL West Division. Heading into Tuesday’s tilt, the Tarpons trailed the Blue Jays for first place by 1.5 games.

RHP Yorlin Calderon drew the start for Tampa – his first start since throwing a no-hitter back in May against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Unfortunately, Calderon was unable to recreate that May magic, surrendering four earned runs over 3.2 innings pitched.

The Blue Jays came ready to play and made a loud opening statement in the top of the first. Josh Kasevich led things off with a ground ball single to center field, followed by Alan Roden who sliced a double to right. With two men on and no outs, Cade Doughty launched a no-doubter that cleared the left field fence in a hurry.

SS Alexander Vargas made sure to get one of those runs back – tripling off the center field wall and scoring on a balk by Dunedin starter Irv Carter.

The Tarpons stormed back to take the lead in the bottom of the third. CF Spencer Jones found the gap in left-center for an RBI-double which scored newcomer 3B Beau Brewer. Next up, C Antonio Gomez smoked a two-run shot over the right field wall to put Tampa ahead, 4-3.

The lead was short lived, with Dunedin knotting the score the following frame. Calderon started the fourth inning with back-to-back strike outs but failed to record the third out. Instead, Victor Mesia singled up the middle, Ryan McCarty walked, and Kasevich took an inside pitch off the wrist. Suddenly, a potentially quick inning turned into a two-out bases loaded jam. Manager Rachel Balkovec made the call to the bullpen and replaced Calderon with LHP Ryan Anderson. The southpaw was able to induce a routine ground ball to third, but Brewer was unable to scoop it cleanly. Vargas fielded the deflection and made the throw to first, but it was not in time.

DH Marcos Cabrera wasted no time putting the Tarpons back on top in the fourth, smashing his team-leading 14th home run of the season to put Tampa up by one run.

The visitors shifted momentum once again in the fifth with…