Thunder miss first chance to clinch playoff spot
The playoff party remained on ice for at least one more night.
Needing a win to clinch a spot in the Eastern League playoffs, the Thunder stumbled in a 5-1 setback at Harrisburg on Friday night.
The Thunder (80-43) needed a victory or Reading loss to book their postseason place. The Fightin Phils trailed Hartford, 1-0, in a game delayed by weather in the fourth inning at press time.
The Senators (54-69) jumped on Thunder starter Dillon Tate, making his second Double-A start, for a pair of runs in the first inning.
Even though Tate only needed nine pitches to get through the frame he allowed a leadoff double to Victor Robles, who eventually scored after back to back ground outs. Raudy Read later belted a solo homer.
Dan Gamache launched a tworun shot off Tate in the fourth to give the hosts a 4-0 lead.
Tate allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings of work. He has an ERA of 5.25 and is 0-2 at the Double-A level following a perfect 6-0 mark in nine starts at High-A.
The Thunder got a run back in seventh on an RBI ground out by Francisco Diaz after loading the bases with one out.
Read (3-for-4) tacked on an extra run for Harrisburg off Andrew Schwaab in the eighth with an RBI single.
The bullpen got a makeover prior to Friday night’s first pitch with addition of pitches Stephen Tarpley and David Sosebee from High-A Tampa.
Tarpley, a 24-year old southpaw, was a third round pick of the Orioles in 2013 before being traded to the Pirates. The Yankees acquired him along with Tito Polo in August of last year.
Tarpley did not allow a run in 30.2 innings (14 appearances) in High-A. He held opponents to a .082 batting average and posted a 0.78 WHIP.
Sosebee pitched collegiality at Georgia and was the Yankees’ 28th round selection in the 2015 draft.
The 23-year-old righty has spent the majority of the season at LowA Charleston, appearing 31 times with 11 saves in 12 opportunities.
He made a lone appearance for Tampa on Aug. 13, working one scoreless inning against Port St. Lucie.
Both Colten Brewer and Cale Coshow, who combined to go 24for-30 in save opportunities, were promoted to Triple-A Scranton, leaving just the struggling Cody Carroll (1-for-5 in SVO) as a lategame option.
If he sticks around, Sosebee should get his ninth-inning chances.
Catcher Wilkin Castillo also reported to the Thunder. Castillo takes Sharif Othman’s roster spot after the reserve backstop had to be placed on the disabled list with a lacerated finger suffered in a kitchen accident.