Carlos Jorge Hits for Cycle in Rumberos Loss

DAYTONA BEACH—Carlos Jorge hit for the first cycle in Daytona Tortugas history, but little else went right as the Rumberos de Daytona fell 16-4 to the Jupiter Hammerheads on Copa de la Diversion at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Jupiter (11-11, 46-41) bashed 16 runs on 17 hits, both the worst totals allowed by Daytona (10-10, 39-46) pitching, spoiling Jorge’s cycle, the first by a Daytona player since Brett Jackson of the Daytona Cubs in 2010.

Jupiter rained on the parade from the beginning, as leadoff hitter Jordan McCants blasted the second pitch from Daytona starter Mason Pelio off the manual scoreboard in left-center field for a solo home run to start off the night. Two batters later, Javier Sanoja doubled, moved to third on a single, then scored on a throwing error to put Jupiter ahead 2-0.

Daytona did get a run back in the bottom of the first. Jorge began his big night by lining the first pitch from Jupiter starter Cole Kirschsieper into the gap in left-center for a leadoff triple. After a strikeout, Sal Stewart rolled a groundball to second to bring in Jorge, trimming the deficit to 2-1.

However, the Hammerheads answered right back in the second. A leadoff double and a walk was followed by a fielder’s choice with an error at the end, bringing home a run. With two outs, Torin Montgomery singled through the left side to plate a second tally, extending the lead to 4-1.

The third inning would provide no reprieve either for Daytona. Pelio got the first two outs of the inning, but Harrison Spohn jumped on a first pitch and blasted it 418 feet over the center field wall, stretching the Jupiter lead to four runs.

After two outs in the third, Jorge stepped up and launched an opposite-field home run to left-center, trimming the deficit to 6-2 on his eight round-tripper of the season.

Brett Lockwood followed with 3.0 scoreless innings on the mound to hold the line for Daytona, turning in his longest outing of the season.

In the meantime, Daytona mounted a threat against Kirschsieper. A two-out walk was followed by a hustle double from Jorge to put runners on second and third with two outs. Hector Rodriguez hit a ground ball up the middle, but was thrown out at first on a bang-bang play to end the inning.

In the eighth, a three-run homer began putting the game out of reach as Jupiter took a 9-4 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Jorge led off the inning and capped off his cycle by ripping a 1-2 single through the right side to finish off the first cycle in Tortugas history. Two batters later, Sal Stewart followed with a two-run homer, cutting the deficit to 9-4 on his ninth round-tripper.

In the ninth, things fell apart as Jupiter scored seven times to cap off a 16-4 drubbing.

The Tortugas will play game five against Jupiter on Saturday night. RHP Johnathan Harmon (3-4, 4.45) gets the ball for Daytona against Jupiter RHP Juan De La Cruz (0-2, 6.59). Tomorrow will be Christmas in July featuring a free snow globe giveaway for the first 1,000 fans. Gates will open at 5:30 with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. and pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense beginning at 6:20 from Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona Tortugas single-game tickets and ticket packages are on sale now at daytonatortugas.com, (386) 257-3172, or the box office at 110 East Orange Ave.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS

The Daytona Tortugas are the Single-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Museum, and many community events and initiatives of all sizes throughout the year.