Cardona K's Eight, but Late Lead Slips Away in Series Finale

WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Ryan Cardona struck out a season-high eight batters, but the Daytona Tortugas let a 3-0 lead slip away late as the Jupiter Hammerheads scored five runs in their last two times up to swipe a 5-3 victory in the series finale on Sunday at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Jupiter (20-22, 55-53) stormed back to split the series after dropping the first three games, dealing a deflating blow to Daytona (18-22, 47-58), who ends the series where they began: one game back of Jupiter in the East Division second-half race.

In the first inning, Daytona threatened right away against Jupiter starter Jhoniel Serrano as Victor Acosta led off the game with a double. He went to third on a groundout, with a diving stop from shortstop Harrison Spohn saving a run. Acosta was then cut down on a grounder to second with the infield in, snuffing out the early rally.

An inning later, the Tortugas again threatened, this time with two outs. Connor Burns sliced a double down the right field line and went to third on Ethan O’Donnell’s first hit as a Tortuga, but a lineout to second ended that frame.

After that, Cardona took his turn pitching himself out of trouble. Jupiter put two on with one out in the second, but Cardona struck out the next two hitters to end the inning. An inning later, a leadoff double and bunt single put two on with no outs, but the right-hander struck out the next three to put up another scoreless frame.

In the fourth, the Tortugas finally got to Serrano. A single and walk opened the inning, but Serrano struck out the next two batters. Yerlin Confidan, though, came through with a two-run double to right-center to break the scoreless tie, putting Daytona in front 2-0.

Cardona proceeded to throw a 1-2-3 fourth, picking up another punchout in the process. His afternoon was finished after 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while notching a season-high eight strikeouts.

In the fifth, Daytona added to the lead as Hector Rodriguez lined a double to right with one out and came home on a Cam Collier RBI single. Collier’s 50^th RBI of the season extended the lead to 3-0.

Graham Osman came and survived a walk and a throwing error to work a scoreless fifth in his Tortugas debut, before giving way to Joseph Menefee, who navigated a one-out double in a scoreless sixth inning.

In the seventh, though, Jupiter roared to life. Tony Bullard led off the inning with a solo homer over the left field bullpen to get the Hammerheads on the board. After a walk and single, Jupiter had runners on the corners with no outs. Menefee, buckled down with a foul out and strikeout, though, to have him on the cusp of escaping the jam. After a stolen base put a man at second, though, a weak bloop hit by Kemp Alderman just cleared the right side of the infield, scoring both runners to tie the game.

In the eighth, Alex Johnson came on and promptly issued a leadoff walk. After a sacrifice, a groundout had him one out from a scoreless inning. On an 0-2 pitch, though, Spencer Bramwell launched a two-run homer that cleared the left field berm, giving Jupiter their first lead of the afternoon, making it 5-3.

After three scoreless innings of relief for Jupiter’s Collin Lowe (4-3), Evan Taylor came on for the ninth and battled his command, plunking O’Donnell and plunking pinch-hitter Carter Graham to put the tying run on base. However, Acosta was called out on strikes and Rodriguez rolled to second to end the game as the Tortugas drop the series finale 5-3.

Daytona will have Monday off before returning home to begin a six game series against the Tampa Tarpons on Tuesday night. Tuesday’s game is another Silver Sluggers Tuesday as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. 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 a.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.