Beltré, bullpen help 'Tugas stifle Tarpons, 6-5

TAMPA, Fla. - Thanks to RF Michael Beltré's RBI single in the eighth and three different pitchers combining to retire the final 14 Tampa batters, the Daytona Tortugas put Monday's gut-wrenching loss behind them with a 6-5 victory over the Tarpons on Tuesday evening at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Tied at five entering the eighth, SS José García (2-4, R, 2B, 3 RBI, SO) collected a one-out single to put the go-ahead run aboard. After an errant pickoff throw moved him to second, Beltré (1-4, RBI) smashed a base-hit up the middle. The 21-year-old scored easily to give the Tortugas (16-18, 51-48) the lead, 6-5.
That was plenty for Daytona's pitching staff on Tuesday. RHPs Austin Orewiler (6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) - who started - as well as Diomar López (2.0 IP, 2 SO) and Dauri Moreta (1.0 IP, 2 SO) combined to retire the final 14 Tarpons' hitters in order to secure the triumph.
Tampa (16-18, 44-56) initially jumped ahead 1-0 in the first on a sacrifice fly by RF Alexander Palma (0-3, RBI, SO) before the Tortugas' offense erupted in the second.
In that frame, 2B Alejo López (1-4, R, SO) led off the inning with a single, scooted to second on a balk, and scored on a fielding error to knot the contest up at one. Three batters later, 3B Bryant Flete (1-3, R, RBI) slapped an RBI base-hit to left in his first at-bat with Daytona to give the squad a 2-1 edge.
Following a single to left by DH Andy Sugilio (1-4, R, 2 SO) that loaded the bases, García came through. The Havana, Cuba native whacked the first pitch he saw off the base of the left-field fence. All three runners scored on the double to give Daytona a four-run advantage, 5-1.
The Tarpons managed to tie it with two in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Tampa snagged a pair in the fourth inning via a fielding error and a wild pitch and pushed two more across in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk to C Jason López (1-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB, SO) and a single to left from 3B Kyle Gray (1-4, 2 RBI).
López (2.0 IP, 2 SO) earned his third win of the year for Daytona, while Moreta (1.0 IP, 2 SO) garnered his first save, as the duo united for three perfect frames to finish the contest. RHP Hobie Harris (2.0 IP, 2 H, R, SO) surrendered an unearned run in the eighth and suffered his third defeat.
Neither starter received a decision on Tuesday. Orewiler (6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) hurled a quality start as he battled through six for Daytona, while RHP Miguel Yajure (7.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, ER, 7 SO) lasted seven innings for Tampa.
Daytona will look to win the series in Wednesday's rubber match as RHP Jared Solomon (0-4, 4.10 ERA) - Cincinnati's No. 30 prospect per MLBPipeline.com - is scheduled to take the hill. Tampa is projected to counter with RHP Jio Orozco (3-2, 3.67 ERA).
The Tortugas Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:15 p.m. ET, leading up to the 6:30 p.m. ET start at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Wednesday evening's contest can be heard on www.daytonatortugas.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps.
Following the lengthy road trip, the Tortugas will return to The Jack to open up a three-contest set against the St. Lucie Mets, the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets, on Friday, August 2. Daytona continues its Best Dressed Friday series, as players and coaches will don special uniforms in honor of the 25th anniversary of comedy classic, "Dumb and Dumber". Those jerseys will be auctioned off online throughout the weekend. It will be another Friday Night Happy Hour presented by Kona Brewing with buy-one, get-one Kona beer products and Bud Light from 5:30 p.m. until first pitch. Finally, after the game, fans will be treated to another splendid Postgame Fireworks display.
Multi-game plans and single-game tickets are still currently available and can be purchased online at www.daytonatortugas.com, or by calling the Tortugas' Ticket Office at (386) 257-3172.
ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are the High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the 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 Beijing Shougang Eagles of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and many large community events and initiatives throughout the season.