Daytona suppressed by St. Lucie, 7-1, on Wednesday

Tyler Callihan reaches base twice, as Tortugas road woes continue

2B Tyler Callihan extended his hit streak to four and reached base twice, but the St. Lucie Mets emerged with a 7-1 victory over the Daytona Tortugas on Wednesday night at Clover Park. (Aldrin Capulong)

By Justin Rocke

June 1, 2022

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Tortugas jumped out to an early advantage on Wednesday night, but St. Lucie took the reigns from there. The Mets put up two in the second and three more in the third en route to a 7-1 win over Daytona at Clover Park. After

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Tortugas jumped out to an early advantage on Wednesday night, but St. Lucie took the reigns from there. The Mets put up two in the second and three more in the third en route to a 7-1 win over Daytona at Clover Park.

After falling behind in the opener on Tuesday, the Tortugas (19-28) snatched an early advantage in the second on Wednesday. 1B Ruben Ibarra (1-3, R, 2B, SO) was drilled with the first pitch of the inning and, following a strikeout, advanced to third on a base-hit into left-center from LF Jack Rogers (1-4, 3 SO). 3B Braylin Minier (1-4, RBI, 2 SO) followed by dunking a single into left field. Ibarra scored, while Rogers stopped at second, giving Daytona a 1-0 advantage.

The lead was short-lived, however. LF Stanley Consuegra (1-4, R) doubled over the center fielder's head on the first pitch of the bottom of the second and promptly took third on a wild pitch. DH Carlos Domínguez (3-3, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB) followed by smashing a run-scoring single to center to tie the game at one.

Following a single from 1B Raúl Beracierta (2-3, BB, SO), a ground out advanced runners to second and third. With two out, 2B Kevin Villavicencio (1-4, RBI, 2 SO) slapped a grounder through the left side to bring in Domínguez, putting the Mets ahead, 2-1.

In the third, the St. Lucie attack continued. After SS William Lugo (0-2, R, 3 BB) coaxed a walk to start the inning, Tortugas' starter RHP Sam Benschoter (2.0+ IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO) departed with an apparent injury.

RF Omar De Los Santos (1-5, R, 3 SO) greeted the new arm with a base hit to center and both moved up on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Domínguez snuck a grounder through the drawn-in infield for a single. Lugo and De Los Santos crossed the dish to stretch the Mets' cushion to three, 4-1. A sacrifice fly to center from C Vincent Perozo (1-3, 3B, 2 RBI) capped St. Lucie's three-run frame.

The Mets closed out the scoring with single runs in the fifth and sixth. In the fifth, Domínguez singled and scored on a triple into the gap in right-center by Perozo. An inning later, CF Alex Ramírez (1-5, R, 2B) doubled down the right-field line and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

RHP Dominic Hamel (6.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 4 BB, 8 SO) tied a career-high with six innings pitched in his start for St. Lucie. The Dallas Baptist University alum struck out eight in a quality start, earning his third win of the season.

Benschoter (2.0+ IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO) — who exited with an apparent injury in the third — was saddled with his second defeat of the campaign for Daytona.

The Tortugas will look to halt their seven-game road losing streak on Thursday. RHP Arij Fransen (1-4, 6.44) is expected to make the start for Daytona. RHP Robert Colina (0-1, 2.25) projects to get the ball for the Mets. Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 5:55 p.m. leading up to the 6:10 p.m. first pitch from Clover Park.

After the six-game road swing, the Tortugas will return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, June 7, to open up a series against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Florida State League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. It will be a Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Radiology Associates Imaging. The Tortugas will don unique pink-clad uniforms that will be auctioned off at the end of the season with all proceeds to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. It is also a Silver Sluggers Night by Conviva, featuring special team store and concession stand deals for members, plus more. The series opener features Taco Tuesday with options at the concession stands starting at just $3.

Season tickets, multi-game plans, group packages, and single-game tickets are 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 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.