14 Runs in 14 Innings for Daytona in Doubleheader Sweep

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Ricardo Cabrera homered and drove in five runs over both games and Yassel Pino added a home run and three RBI in game two as the Daytona Tortugas swept a Saturday night doubleheader from the Jupiter Hammerheads 7-4 and 7-3 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona (4-3, 35-38) earned their second doubleheader sweep of the season as their offense has now battered Jupiter (4-4, 40-34) pitching for 24 runs over the past three games, all victories.

After both starters worked a scoreless first, Daytona took advantage of a bout of wildness from Jupiter starter Keyner Benitez. Three walks loaded the bases with one out for Eddy Isturiz, who looped an RBI single to left to score the game’s first run. A wild pitch followed to bring home Luis Reyes to put Daytona in front 2-0.

Daytona starter Ben Brutti started off his outing by throwing three scoreless innings, working around a hit in each of those frames.

In the fourth, though, Jupiter mounted a two-out rally. John Cruz drove in the first run with an RBI single, then Angelo DiSpigna ripped a two-run home run to left-center to put Jupiter in front. After two walks, Jordan McCants rolled an RBI single that chased Brutti for Jonah Hurney, who got the final out of the inning, with Jupiter now in front 4-2.

The Tortugas, though, had an immediate answer. Malvin Valdez led off with a single, stole second, and went to third on an error. Isturiz followed with his second RBI single of the game to bring home a run. He then stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored the tying run on a passed ball. Trey Faltine then walked, reached second on a ground out, and came home on a bloop single by Cabrera to put Daytona in front, 5-4.

Hurney turned around and spun scoreless fifth and sixth innings, working around a leadoff single in the fifth and a walk in the sixth to preserve the one-run advantage.

Daytona then added key insurance with a two-out rally in the sixth. Faltine singled, then broke for second on a Stafura single, heading for third. He was then waved around and scored underneath a high throw with Stafura moving to third. Cabrera then legged out an infield single to third to score a second run, pushing the lead to 7-4.

Hurney (4-0) spared all drama, setting down the side 1-2-3 in the seventh, as he finished game one with 3.1 scoreless innings, with one hit and one walk allowed and four strikeouts, earning the win in a game one triumph.

In the second contest, Jupiter took an early lead against Daytona starter Dualvert Gutierrez. In the second inning, Yeral Martinez lined a two-out, two-run RBI single to put the Hammerheads up 2-0.

Daytona, though, had a quick response as Pino responded by lining a delivery from Walin Castillo into left-field for a two-out, two-run single to tie the game at two.

In the third, though, Jupiter pulled back in front on a two-out RBI double by Brock Vradenburg. An infield single and walk, though, loaded the bases, chasing Gutierrez for Alex Johnson, who induced a groundout to keep it a 3-2 game in Jupiter’s favor.

In the bottom of the third, the Tortugas again got to Castillo. Singles by Faltine and Yerlin Confidan opened the inning ahead of Cabrera, who launched an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left-center for a three-run home run. His tenth homer of the season put the Tortugas in front 5-3.

A couple of bombs to cap off a couple of wins! pic.twitter.com/aTUDn5Mrp7

— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) June 30, 2024

Johnson returned for the fourth and brushed off a leadoff single by retiring the next three, including two strikeouts to end the inning. In the fifth, though, two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Johnson (2-2), however induced a 6-4-3 double play to extinguish the threat, finishing off 2.1 scoreless innings of relief that put him in line for the win.

The Tortugas proceeded to add on in the fifth and sixth frames. With two outs in the fifth, Ariel Almonte lined his second double of the game to chase Castillo. Jack Sellinger entered and was greeted by an RBI single from Jack Moss to push the lead to three. An inning later, Pino put the cherry on top with a 411-foot blast to left-center for the final run of the night.

Cody Adcock did the rest on the mound, working a 1-2-3 sixth and allowing a single in the seventh, by retiring the last three batters to polish off his second save of the season and a 7-3 win.

Daytona finish the series against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Sunday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Military Appreciation Weekend finishes up with free tickets for active-duty military and veterans, plus it will be Shelldon’s Family Fun Day and postgame Kids Run the Bases. Games will open at 4:00 with first pitch will at 5:00 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network, MiLB.tv, and Bally Live with the Voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, beginning at 4:50 p.m.