Tarpons’ Rally Comes Up Short, Marauders Win 7-6

May 4, 2023 – Florida State League (FSL) – Tampa Tarpons News Release

Tampa Tarpons’ Jared Serna in action
(Tampa Tarpons)

TAMPA, Fla. – Oh, so close. The Tampa Tarpons (9-15) dropped a nailbiter to the Bradenton Marauders (15-9) Thursday night at GMS Field, 7-6. Tampa rallied hard in the ninth; they had the tying run on third base after scoring two runs to pull within one, but were not able to prevail.

LHP Brock Selvidge (5.0IP, 5H, 3R, 2BB, 5K, HR) opened on the bump for Tampa and gave the team five quality innings despite taking the loss. Selvidge relied heavily on his fastball, using it 47% of the time. His fastball averaged 92 MPH, but did not generate many swings and misses, getting only two whiffs on the pitch.

Jesus Castillo led off the night with a chopper over 1B Ronny Rojas’ glove. He advanced to second on a groundout. Castillo tried to get within 90 feet of scoring, but C Omar Martinez threw a dart to 3B Jared Serna to nab the runner. Serna did not have to move his glove as the throw led him right into the tag to eliminate any threat in the first.

Bradenton struck first in the second inning. They loaded the bases with no outs on a walk, a single, and an E3. Shalin Polanco crossed home plate as Selvidge unleashed a wild pitch, giving Bradenton the first run of the night. Selvidge struck out two batters looking and got Nick Cimillo to ground out to escape any further damage.

After turning a 6-4-3 double play, it looked like Tampa was going to have an easy third inning. Rodolfo Nolasco had other ideas as he blasted a 102 MPH rocket off the center field wall. CF Alan Mejia collided with the wall while trying to make the catch, and Nolasco was off to the races. Nolasco turned on the afterburners, rounding second base, and made it all the way home for an inside-the-park home run.

When the lineup flipped back over in the third, Tampa sparked a two-out rally. SS Brenny Escanio singled to right field, and RF Daury Arias roped a double into the right-center gap, scoring Escanio all the way from first. The rally did not stop there. Jared Triolo misplayed a groundball off the bat of Serna. As the ball rolled into right field, Arias beat the throw home to tie the game; however, Serna was out trying to stretch the single into a double.

After a one-out walk, Delvis Nadal made his presence felt by swiping both second and third base in the fourth. With Nadal 90 feet away from scoring, Rayber Romero laid down an unusual and unsuccessful two-out bunt to get…