Early Homers Overcome by Tsunami of Runs in 20-4 Defeat

LAKELAND, FL—Sal Stewart and Donovan Antonia homered, but very little else went right as the Daytona Tortugas fell victim to a 20-4 onslaught at the hands of the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Lakeland (20-9, 46-48) became the first Florida State League team since 2021 to score 20 runs as Daytona (11-16, 40-52) dropped their sixth straight, allowing 20 runs for the first time since the Daytona Cubs did so in 2007.

After Daytona left a runner at third base in the first inning, the Flying Tigers jumped in front against Tortugas starter Johnathan Harmon. A leadoff bunt single from Seth Stephenson and walk put two on with one out. After a strikeout, a stolen base put Stephenson at third just in time to score on a wild pitch. Cristian Santana followed with an RBI single to left to bring home a second run, staking Lakeland to a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Daytona broke out the lumber to take the lead. Antonia led off and launched a 385-foot blast over the left-field wall for his first home run in a Tortugas uniform. Daytona wasn’t done, though, as a hit batter and a walk brought Stewart to the plate. The Tortuga third baseman jumped on an 0-1 delivery and crushed it 426 feet to deep left-center for a three-run blast, his tenth of the year. Daytona now led 4-2.

That lead, though, quickly evaporated. With one out, an error opened the door for Lakeland and Juan De La Cruz took advantage right away, lining the very next pitch over the right-field wall for a two-run homer to tie the game. Lakeland wasn’t done, though, as a walk and three more doubles proceeded to bring in three more runs, chasing Harmon and restoring the Lakeland lead with a five-run frame to make it 7-4.

Daytona had a chance to answer in the fourth as Hector Rodriguez doubled and Logan Tanner singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. However, Chris Williams relieved Apker and retired the next three batters, ending what proved to be the final offensive threat of the night for the Tortugas.

The Flying Tigers then went to work putting the game out of reach in the later innings. Manuel Sequera lined a three-run homer to get Lakeland to double digits before RBI doubles from Jose De La Cruz and Sequera in the seventh. The latter was Sequera’s fourth hit and sixth RBI of the night, stretching the lead to 12-4.

The bottom fell out in the eighth as the Flying Tigers sent 13 men to the plate, scoring eight runs in the inning on seven hits, becoming the first Florida State League to reach 20 runs in a game in nearly two years.

Daytona meanwhile, mustered nothing after a fifth-inning walk, as the Lakeland bullpen retired the final 14 Tortugas to cap off the 20-4 romp.

The Tortugas will finish the series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Sunday afternoon. RHP Ryan Cardona (1-1, 3.00) will get the ball for Daytona while Lakeland’s starter is still to be announced. First pitch from Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland will be at 1:00 p.m. with pregame coverage with the voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, beginning at 12:45 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.