TAMPA, Fla. – Dax Kilby drove in three runs, David McCann homered and collected three hits, and the Tampa Tarpons broke the game open late to defeat the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 8-2, on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Fresh off the injured list, Kilby continued his torrid start by going 2-for-5 with three RBIs. The Yankees' No. 2 prospect has now driven in 10 runs over his first six games back. McCann finished 3-for-4 with a solo home run, while Wilberson De Peña added a towering solo blast off the scoreboard.
Lakeland got on the board in the opening frame on an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead, but the Tarpons answered immediately in the bottom half when De Peña launched his home run to tie the game at one.
The Flying Tigers regained the lead in the third on Ronald Ramirez's RBI triple, but Tampa responded in the fifth. McCann singled and later scored when Kilby ripped a game-tying double off the left-field wall to even the score at 2-2.
The Tarpons seized control over the next two innings. Luis Puello's sacrifice fly plated Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek to give Tampa its first lead of the night in the sixth before Brando Mayea extended the advantage with a solo homer in the seventh. Later in the inning, Kilby lined a two-run single into left, stretching the lead to 6-2.
McCann capped his strong night in the eighth by sneaking a solo home run just over the left-field wall. Ediel Rivera followed later in the inning with an RBI single, pushing the Tarpons' lead to 8-2.
Justin West started for Tampa and allowed two runs on nine hits while striking out three over 5.1 innings. Jordarlin Mendoza and Matthew Tippie combined for 3.2 hitless innings out of the bullpen, with Tippie tossing a scoreless ninth to secure the victory.
The Tarpons and Flying Tigers continue their six-game series Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.