June 9, 2012
Rocky Julich

Yikes, the Tampa Yankees took the playing field uniformed in green “Custom Jerseys”. It was Teacher Appreciation Night at Steinbrenner Field and the Jerseys were auctioned after the game with the proceeds benefiting SERVE, Volunteers in Education. It was a “Greene” sort of night.

Daytona Cubs (27W-32L), pitching Frank Del Valle (4-1, 4.36)

Tampa Yankees (25W-33L), pitching Shane Green (0-2, 4.66)

As the teams prepare to close the first half of the season, two players of Daytona appear on the list of Florida State League leaders; infielder, Greg Rohand ,305 AVG, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 68 Hits, 19 doubles and LF Nelson Perez, .305 AVG, 10 HR, 41 RBI.

RF Rob Segedin continues as the leader on the Tampa Yankees .286 AVG., 18 doubles, 6 HR, 31 RBI.

The Yankees connected the first hit of the game in the bottom of the third inning from LF Ramon Flores. At the start of the bottom of the fourth inning, an error by Daytona 2B Ron Torreys put RF Neil Medchill on base. DH Kyle Higashioka doubled to deep centerfield scoring Medchill. The sixth batter in the line-up, 1B Kyle Roller took the first pitch and sent it over the right field wall for his seventh homer of the season. The Yankees took a lead three runs to none.

At the bottom of the sixth inning, Kyle Higashioka got on base with a hit. Kyle Roller followed with a single. With CF Eduardo Sosa batting, a wild pitch by Daytona pitcher Eduardo Figueroa scored Higashioka. Eduardo Sosa hit a single scoring Roller to increase the Yankees lead, Tampa 5 – Daytona 0.

At the bottom of the seventh inning 2B Anderson Feliz got on base with a triple. C J.R.Murphy got a hit and drove in Feliz. A triple by Kyle Roller would bring in Murphy, Tampa 7 – Daytona 0.

Eight of the players in the Tampa line-up recorded a hit. Kyle Roller went 3-4 with a two-run homerun, a single and a double, missing a triple for the cycle, while recording three RBI (28). Kyle Higashioka walk, double and single, scoring two runs and one RBI. Anderson Feliz walk, triple and scored a run.

Tampa pitcher Shane Greene took control of his game early, striking out eight Cubs in six innings, holding the line-up to zero hits, zero walks, he was perfect. Greene was on an 85 pitch count and was replaced after sixth innings. Shane Greene said he believed his pitch count was around 85 and he knew he wouldn’t have a shot to finish what he started.

Tampa pitchers Rigoberto Arrebato and Mark Montgomery pitched the last three innings to complete the shut out of the Daytona Cubs. It was Tampa’s first win at home since May 20th.

Of the thirty Daytona Cubs the Tampa pitchers faced, twelve were out on strikes. Additionally, during the first six innings of play, the Cubs line-up went out, one-two-three until the top of the seventh inning when SS Arismendy Alcantara connected the first hit. There would be three outs and a hit in each of the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

Final: Tampa Yankees 7 – Daytona Cubs 0
WP: Shane Greene (1-2, 401 ERA)
LP: Frank Del Valle (4-2, 4.28 ERA)
Time: 2:24
Attendance: 2,604

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.