MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The top-ranked Tampa Spartans took the first game of a three-game Sunshine State Conference baseball series 5-2 from the Barry Buccaneers at Feinbloom Field Friday night.
In a game which was a real pitcher's duel, the Spartans (26-4, 7-0 SSC) broke through in the fourth inning off Buccaneer starter
Jayson Brown (3-3). Jose Hernandez walked to lead off the inning and scored on a single by Roberto Valiente. T.J. Alonso plated Valiente with a double down the right field line.
The Spartans scored two more runs in the sixth. Kurt Baxley and Valiente walked to lead off the inning and scored when Buccaneer catcher
Ricky Sanchez failed to handle the throw from
Cesar Aranguren on Scott Leffler's ground ball with one out and the bases loaded.
The Bucs (19-11, 2-5 SSC) nibbled back, scoring one run in the bottom to the sixth.
Alex Brizuela drew a lead-off walk and scored on a single by
Brian Lima. Sanchez' home run in the seventh trimmed the lead to 4-2.
But Leffler smashed a long homer off reliever
Eric Horstmann in the eighth inning and the Bucs could not manage to crack the plate off Spartan closer Aaron Cook, who worked the last two innings to earn his eighth save.
Sergio Perez (7-2) was perfect through four innings and finished with seven strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out nine. Brown took the loss for the Buccaneers, throwing five innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks, striking out five. He was lifted in the sixth inning with an injury and Horstmann finished the game giving up four hits and no walks, while striking out two. His only run came on Leffler's blast.
The teams will play two games on Saturday, Mar. 26 starting at 1:00 pm to complete the series.
Tampa 5, Barry 2 (03/25/2005 at Miami Shores, Fla.)
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Tampa............... 000 202 010 - 5 8 1 (26-4, 7-0 SSC)
Barry............... 000 001 100 - 2 5 1 (19-11, 2-5 SSC)
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Pitchers: Tampa - Perez; Cook(8). Barry - Brown; Horstmann(6).
Win-Perez(7-2) Save-Cook(8) Loss-Brown(3-3) T-2:33 A-273
HR UTB - Leffler (1).
HR BUB - Sanchez (12).