LAKELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — Kevin Verde hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning Friday to lift the Tampa Tarpons past the Lakeland Flying Tigers 4-3 at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Lakeland took a 1-0 lead in the first when Thayron Liranzo singled home Jordan Yost. The Flying Tigers added a run in the third and another in the fifth on a Liranzo sacrifice fly after Yost scored.

Tampa pulled within 2-1 in the fifth on a JoJo Jackson sacrifice fly. In the seventh, Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek singled to score Enmanuel Tejeda, tying the game. Verde then launched his first homer of the season in the eighth, driving in Austin Green for the decisive runs.

Thomas Balboni Jr. (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Greysen Carter earned his first save with two shutout innings, striking out five. Eliseo Mota (1-1) took the loss, allowing two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Justin West started for Tampa, allowing two earned runs over 4 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. Yost went 2-for-4 for Lakeland. The Tarpons improved to 7-12, while the Flying Tigers dropped to 12-7. Attendance was 701, and the game lasted 2:38.