Unlikely Heroes Lead Way in Wild 15-10 Win
CLEARWATER, Fla—Luis Leones reached base six times, Carter Graham homered, five Tortugas drove in multiple runs, and infielder Luis Reyes was on the mound to close out a bizarre and unhinged 15-10 victory over the Clearwater Threshers on Friday night at BayCare Ballpark. Daytona (4-3) earned their second straight win
CLEARWATER, Fla—Luis Leones reached base six times, Carter Graham homered, five Tortugas drove in multiple runs, and infielder Luis Reyes was on the mound to close out a bizarre and unhinged 15-10 victory over the Clearwater Threshers on Friday night at BayCare Ballpark.
Daytona (4-3) earned their second straight win over Clearwater (4-3), doing so in about the polar opposite fashion as Thursday’s pitcher’s duel, pounding out 14 hits and setting season highs in most offensive categories.
In the first inning, Clearwater took the lead against Daytona starter Ty Floyd. With one out, Eduardo Tait golfed an 0-2 pitch over the right field wall for a solo home run. Floyd bounced back, though, by striking out the next two batters to end the inning.
Daytona then went to work in the second. After a single and a walk, Diego Omana sliced a single to right to drive in Daytona’s first run. Iverson Espinoza rolled an infield hit off the third-base bag to bring in a second run. After a Malvin Valdez sacrifice fly, a wild pitch scored Espinoza for the fourth run of the frame. Carlos Sanchez then lined an RBI single up the middle before Graham put the bow on the inning with a 406-foot drive to center.
When the dust settled, the Tortugas had scored seven runs on five hits, taking a commanding 7-1 lead.
Floyd returned for the second and was plenty sharp after the long inning, striking out the side as he ran his strikeout string to five straight batters. He then returned for the third and spun another 1-2-3 inning, finishing his outing with a strikeout. Floyd allowed one run on one hit with six strikeouts and no walks over 3.0 innings in his second start.
Daytona added to the lead in the fourth. Leones led off with a walk, stole second, then scored on an RBI single by Valdez. After an error extended the inning, Ryan McCrystal boomed a two-run double to extend the lead to 10-1.
Adrian Herrera then entered the contest for the fourth and worked around two hits, leaving two in scoring position. He worked around a leadoff hit in a scoreless fifth as well.
However, things went sideways in the fifth as he began the inning with a hit batter, then allowed an RBI double to Aroon Escobar. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly closed the gap to 10-3. He then departed with two on and two outs for Nelfri Payano, who got the final out in the inning.
Clearwater, roared back in the seventh thanks to a bevy of free baserunners. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with one, before a walk forced in a run. Two straight balks then brought in a couple runs before Carter Mathison sent a drive into the left-field bullpen that capped off a five-run inning, closing the gap to 10-8.
Daytona answered with a run in the eight as Leones led off with an infield hit, the second of his three knocks on the night, then went to third on a Valdez single. He then scored on a double play to make it 11-8.
Victor Diaz, though, labored in the eighth, as a hit batter, two walks, and a single brought in a pair of runs, closing the gap to 11-10. With the tying run at second and go-ahead run at first with two outs, Diaz was pulled and in a surprise to all, the first baseman Reyes took the mound for the first time as a professional. Reyes walked Mathison to load the bases, but then induced a pop-up to end the inning.
In the ninth, the Tortugas answered. Reyes started the rally with a walk, then was one of two who scored two batters later on a two-run double for Omana. Leones’ third hit loaded the bases and Sanchez lined a two-run single up the middle to push Daytona’s lead to five runs.
With a larger cushion, Reyes allowed a leadoff single, then struck out the next two batters, both looking. He then induced a weak roller off the bat of Tait, as the infielder secured the improbable four-out save and with it, a roller-coaster 15-10 victory.
Daytona will play game five of a six-game series on the road against the Clearwater Threshers Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. RHP Kenya Huggins (0-0, 0.00) gets the ball for Daytona while Clearwater will start RHP Marcus Morgan (0-0, 0.00). Pregame coverage with the Voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, will begin on the Tortugas Radio Network at 6:15 p.m.
Tickets for every Tortugas home game are available on our website, by calling 386-257-3172, or by visiting the Jackie Robinson Ballpark box office at 110 E. Orange Avenue.
ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are in their tenth season as the Single-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League. The Tortugas play at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida that was recently designated a National Commemorative Site. 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.
Floyd Fantastic, But Four-Run Frame Foils Daytona
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla—Ty Floyd struck out a career-high seven batters over 4.0 hitless innings, but the St. Lucie Mets scored four runs against the Daytona Tortugas bullpen in sixth to turn the tide in a 6-3 St. Lucie victory on Wednesday afternoon at Clover Park. St. Lucie (10-7) earned
Strong Pitching Night Slips Away in Series Opener
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla—The Daytona Tortugas held the St. Lucie Mets to just three hits and did not allow a run over the first eight innings, but St. Lucie tied the game in the ninth, then walked away with a 3-2 win in ten innings on Tuesday night at Clover
Carlos Sanchez Named Florida State League Player of the Week
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Daytona Tortugas infielder Carlos Sanchez has been named the Florida State League Player of the Week for the week of April 15-20 after a huge week that was instrumental in the Tortugas winning four of six games at home against the Jupiter Hammerheads A 20-year-old native of the
Duno, Omana Homer, But Two-Out Avalanche Downs Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Alfredo Duno and Diego Omana homered, while Esmith Pineda added two hits and two RBI, but the Jupiter Hammerheads scored five runs in the first and didn’t look back as they defeated the Daytona Tortugas 11-7 on Easter Sunday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Jupiter (7-8) salvaged the final
Sellout Crowd Silenced in 4-2 Setback
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—The Daytona Tortugas welcomed a throng of 3,550 to Jackie Robinson Ballpark for their largest gathering since 2019, but the Jupiter Hammerheads silenced the crowd and the Daytona bats as they spoiled the big gathering with a 4-2 victory on Saturday night. Jupiter (6-8) broke open a tie
Tortugas Break Open Tight Game in Sixth, Win Fourth in a Row
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Daytona broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth and pulled away with three more in the sixth as the Daytona Tortugas won their fourth game in a row with a 5-1 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Daytona (8-5) improved to 6-1
Moon’s Two Hits, RBIs Lead Tortugas to Third Straight Win
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Bernard Moon swatted a pair of RBI hits, including the tie-breaker in the sixth, to lead the Daytona Tortugas to a 3-2 victory over the Jupiter Hammerheads on Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Daytona (7-5) won their third straight for the first time this season, holding Jupiter
Graham’s Blast, Duo of Doubles Pace Second Straight Win
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Carter Graham crushed his third homer, Alfredo Duno drove in three, and Carlos Sanchez posted two doubles and two RBI as the Daytona Tortugas defeated the Jupiter Hammerheads 7-1 on Wednesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Daytona (6-5) held Jupiter (5-6) to just four hits one night after
Sanchez’s Slam, Leones’ Line Shot Leads Blowout Win
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Carlos Sanchez crushed a grand slam and drove in six, Luis Leones added a three-run home run, and the Daytona Tortugas pounced on the Jupiter Hammerheads 17-6 in the series opener Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Daytona (5-5) drew 14 walks and held Jupiter (5-5) to just
‘Tugas Tie it in Ninth, But Threshers Take Series in 11th-Inning Walkoff
CLEARWATER, Fla—Luke Holman threw 5.0 innings of one-hit ball and the Daytona Tortugas rallied to tie the game in the ninth, but the Clearwater Threshers earned their second walk-off win of the series to win the series finale 5-4 in 11 innings on Sunday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark. Clearwater (6-3)
Henley Drives in Two, But Eighth-Inning Blast Topples ‘Tugas
CLEARWATER, Fla—Kyle Henley had two hits and his first two RBI of the season, but a leadoff home run in the eighth broke a tie as the Clearwater Threshers nipped the Daytona Tortugas 5-4 on Saturday night at BayCare Ballpark. Clearwater (5-4) struck out 13 Daytona (4-4) batters as the
Reyes’ Double, Dominant ‘Pen Lead 3-2 Win
CLEARWATER, Fla.—Luis Reyes roped a key two-run double and Trent Hodgdon earned his first career win with 3.0 scoreless innings as three Daytona Tortugas pitchers held the Clearwater Threshers to just four hits to earn a 3-2 win on Thursday night at BayCare Ballpark. Daytona (3-3) only recorded five hits
Five-Run Second Not Enough in Second-Straight Setback
CLEARWATER, Fla—Sammy Stafura drove in two runs, but the Daytona Tortugas failed to build off a five-run second as the Clearwater Threshers erased a three-run deficit to win 8-5 on Wednesday night at BayCare Ballpark. Clearwater (4-1) struck out 14 Daytona (2-3) batters and also retired 22 of the final
Final Out Elusive as Threshers Swipe 8-7 Win
CLEARWATER, Fla—Ryan McCrystal blasted his first career homer and Luke Holman twirled 4.0 scoreless innings in his professional debut, but the Daytona Tortugas, after being ahead by four runs with two outs and no one on in the ninth, never got the final out as the Clearwater Threshers rallied to
Graham’s Bomb, Dominant Pitching Sets Tone in Series-Clinching Win
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Carter Graham hit an impressive home run and drove in three, Kenya Huggins and JP Ortiz each spun 4.0 scoreless innings, and the Daytona Tortugas cruised to a 7-0 win over the Bradenton Marauders to win the first series of the season on Sunday evening at Jackie Robinson
Duno’s Homer Leads Balanced Attack in Tortugas First Win of ‘25
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Alfredo Duno homered, doubled, and drove in three runs, while Iverson Espinoza added two hits and two RBI in his Tortugas debut as the Daytona Tortugas earned their first win of the season, 7-3 over the Bradenton Marauders in front of 2,561 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Daytona
Diaz Dazzles, but Daytona Drops Opener in Front of 3,301
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Right-hander Victor Diaz struck out five in his pro debut and the Daytona Tortugas struck out 14 batters as a team, but the Bradenton Marauders took the lead tight away and never looked back as the Tortugas fell 6-2 in front of 3,301 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Tortugas Release 2025 Opening Day Roster
PRINTABLE ROSTER DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—The Daytona Tortugas have released their Opening Day roster for the 2025 season. The new-look squad will take the field for the first time when the team opens their tenth season of play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark this Friday, April 4, at 6:35 p.m. The Tortugas
Tortugas Unveil Full 2025 Promotional Schedule
PRINTER-FRIENDLY SCHEDULE FULL SCHEDULE AND TICKETS DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The Daytona Tortugas have unveiled their full promotional schedule for their tenth season of play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The season will be highlighted by the return of several popular theme nights and daily promotions from previous seasons, plus new and exciting
Tortugas Announce 2025 Coaching Staff
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—In conjunction with the Cincinnati Reds, the Daytona Tortugas announced their coaching and support staff for the 2025 season on Monday afternoon. Manager Willie Harris joins the Tortugas for his first season in Daytona and his first season back in the Reds organization. The 46-year-old most recently served
Daytona Tortugas Release 2025 Schedule
PRINTABLE VERSION DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—In conjunction with the Florida State League and Major League Baseball, the Daytona Tortugas have released their schedule for the 2025 season, the historic tenth season of Tortugas baseball. The Tortugas are scheduled to play 132 games: 66 home and 66 away. They will open the
Nestor Lorant Honored as Florida State League Pitcher of the Year
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—After an outstanding 2024 season, right-hand pitcher Nestor Lorant was named Florida State League Pitcher of the Year on Thursday. Lorant enjoyed a tremendous season on the mound, going 8-3 with a 1.44 ERA in 22 games (seven starts), with 99 strikeouts against just 22 walks over 87.2
Tortugas Bounced Out of Playoffs as Curtain Closes on 2024
JUPITER, Fla—The Palm Beach Cardinals blasted a tie game wide open with an eight-run fifth inning as the Daytona Tortugas were bounced from the Florida State League playoffs as they were routed 11-2 to bring the 2024 season to a close. Palm Beach (2-0, 83-47) punched their ticket to the
Palm Beach Pummels Daytona Early to Take Series Lead
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Yerlin Confidan doubled, homered, and scored twice, but the Palm Beach Cardinals scored five runs over the first innings and opened the Florida State playoffs by defeating the Daytona Tortugas 8-3 on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Palm Beach (1-0, 83-47) stroked 11 hits and turned three