Ascanio's Big Night Highlights Wild Comeback Effort, But 'Tugas Fall 11-8

DAYTONA BEACH—Johnny Ascanio homered as part of a three-hit night, highlighting a frenetic comeback attempt from eight runs down, but the Daytona Tortugas came up just shy as the Tampa Tarpons won 11-8 on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Tampa (24-22, 55-57) won their third consecutive game as Daytona (19-25, 48-61) walked double-digit batters for a third straight night, but nearly was able to make up for it with a frantic late-inning push.

In the top of the first, Tampa struck first against Daytona starter Mason Pelio. A one-out single was followed by a walk, before a tapper to the mound moved both runners up on the second out. Brenny Escanio followed with a single to right that scored a run. However, Ariel Almonte threw out Omar Martinez at the plate also trying to score, ending the inning on his fourth outfield assist of the year.

Daytona, though, answered with a two-out rally against Tampa starter Sean Hermann. After a pair of groundouts to open the inning, Cam Collier was hit by a pitch. Ascanio came up and followed with a two-run home run that just sneaked over the right-field wall. Daytona now led 2-1.

However, the lead did not last long. Two walks opened the second inning before Daury Arias cracked a three-run home run 415 feet to deep right-center. The round-tripper put the Tarpons in front 4-2.

In the third, Tampa went to work extending their lead. After a leadoff double, Escanio lined his second RBI single of the night to left. A walk followed, after which Pelio picked up a strikeout. With his pitch count soaring, though, he was lifted for Frainger Aranguren, who proceeded to walk the first three batters he faced, forcing in two more runs to make it 7-2.

Hermann navigated out of a two-on, no-out jam in the third before spinning a 1-2-3 fourth. In the fifth, though, Daytona got a run back as Hector Rodriguez doubled and came home on an RBI single from Collier to make it 7-3.

Bryce Hubbart came on and added a scoreless sixth, but faltered with one out in the seventh, allowing two hits and two walks, with a double steal bringing in a run on a steal of home by Jose Colmenares. With the bases loaded, Nicolo Pinazzi came and induced a foulout, but an infield single by Escanio, his third hit of the night, brought in another run to push the Tarpons ahead 9-3.

With a runner aboard an inning later, Colmenares struck, blasting his second home run in as many nights down the left field line, putting Tampa in double digits to go up 11-3.

Daytona though, was not done. Alex Bustamante came in for Tampa and failed to retire any of his six batters faced. Ascanio doubled for his third hit, then scored two batters later on an Almonte RBI double. Logan Tanner followed with his first professional triple off the wall in right-center, bringing in two more runs. Yerlin Confidan followed with an RBI double of his own, trimming the deficit to 11-7.

Bustamante issued another walk before Geoffrey Gilbert came on and picked up a strikeout, before an infield hit loaded the bases with one down. With the tying run now at the plate, though, Gilbert struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Designated hitter Donovan Antonia went out to the mound in the ninth and in his professional pitching debut spun the only 1-2-3 inning by a Tortuga on the night, highlighted by a strikeout of Josh Moylan on a 55-mph pitch.

In the bottom of the ninth, Osiel Rodriguez came on for Tampa and issued three straight one-out walks to bring Antonia up as the tying run. He hit a slow roller to second which brought in a run, but also recorded the second out. Victor Acosta then bounced to second to end the game as the rally came up short in an 11-8 defeat.

Daytona will play game five against the Tampa Tarpons on Friday night. Daytona will throw RHP Johnathan Harmon (3-5, 4.36) against Tampa RHP Ryan Harvey (1-0, 3.38). Tomorrow will be the fourth in our five fan-picked bobblehead series, with the first 1,000 fans receiving an Elly De La Cruz bobblehead. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with the first pitch at 6:35 p.m. with pregame coverage with the voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, beginning at 6:20 p.m. on the Tortugas Radio Network.

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.